Bantan Line

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Bantan Line
Limited Express Hamakaze
Locale	Hyōgo Prefecture
Dates of operation	1894–present
Track gauge	1,067 mm / 3 ft 6 in (narrow gauge)
Length	65.7 km

The Bantan Line (播但線, Bantan-sen^?) is a railway line that runs between Himeji and Asago in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The line is operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and serves as a connector between the Sanyo Main Line and the Sanin Main Line. The name refers to the ancient provinces of Harima (播磨) and Tajima (但馬), which the line connects.

The line is 65.7 kilometres (40.8 mi) long, with 18 stations.

Service

Local train operation is divided into the electrified section between Himeji and Teramae, and the non-electrified section between Teramae and Wadayama. All local trains makes every stop on the line, and no local train runs the entire length of the line.

Limited express Hamakaze, which connects the Kinki region to the San'in region, uses the Bantan Line to access the San'in Main Line.

History

Originally it was constructed by the private company Bantan Railway (播但鉄道, Bantan Tetsudō^?). The section between Shikama-Kou Station and Nii Station was opened between 1896 and 1901. The remaining part was built by Sanyō Railway (山陽鉄道, Sanyō Tetsudō^?) that purchased Bantan Railway in 1906.

Under the Railway Nationalisation Act of 1906, it was purchased by the Japanese government and renamed Bantan Line.

Bantan Railway

• July 26, 1894 The section between Himeji Station and Teramae Station was opened.
• January 15, 1895 It was extended to the north to Hase Station.
• April 17, 1895 It was extended to the north Ikuno Station and to the south Shikama Station (later Shikama-Kou Station).
• August 19, 1896 Nibuno Station was opened.
• November 20, 1897 Tenjin Station (later Shikama Station) was opened.
• February 20, 1898 Kyoguchi Station was opened.
• March 28, 1898 Mizoguchi Station was opened.
• August 29, 1901 It was extended to the north Nii Station.

Sanyō Railway

• June 1, 1903 Sanyō Railway purchased Bantan Railway.
• April 1, 1906 It was extended to the north Wadayama Station.

Japan National Railway / Japan Railway

• December 1, 1906 Sanyō Railway was nationalized.
• October 12, 1906 The line renamed Bantan Line.
• September 21, 1915 Shikama Station was renamed Shikama-Kou Station, and Tenjin Station was renamed Shikama Station.
• October 15, 1925 Tofu-Machi Station was closed.
• August 10, 1934 Aokura Station was opened.
• November 20, 1935 Tohori Station was opened.
• October 15, 1951 Niino Station was opened.
• November 1, 1986 The section between Himeji Station and Shikama-Kou Station was closed.
• April 1, 1987 Japan National Railway was divided and privatized. The line inherited to West Japan Railway Company.
• March 14, 1998 The part between Himeji Station and Teramae Station was electrified.

Stations

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