Tokushima Line

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Tokushima Line 徳島線
Local trains stopped at Kō Station
Info
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Tokushima Prefecture
Termini	Sako Tsukuda
Stations	24
Operation
Opened	1899
Operator(s)	JR Shikoku
Technical
Line length	67.5 km (41.94 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	None
Operating speed	110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map

Tokushima Line

Legend Lines are of JR Shikoku Mugi Line (1.4) T00 Tokushima (M00) Kōtoku Line 0.0 B01 Sako (T01) Kōtoku Line Tokushima Line 1.9 B02 Kuramoto 3.0 B03 Akui 5.2 B04 Kō 8.9 B05 Ishii 11.2 B06 Shimoura 13.7 B07 Ushinoshima 15.7 B08 Oezuka 17.5 B09 Kamojima 19.4 B10 Nishi-Oe 21.3 B11 Awa-Kawashima 24.8 B12 Gaku 27.6 B13 Yamase 29.8 B14 Awa-Yamakawa 32.7 B15 Kawata 37.2 B16 Anabuki 42.9 B17 Oshima 48.1 B18 Sadamitsu 50.3 B19 Awa-Handa 56.3 B20 Eguchi 58.8 B21 Mikamo 60.9 B22 Awa-Kamo 66.0 B23 Tsuji Tokushima Line Dosan Line 67.5 B24 Tsukuda (D21) (72.6) D22 Awa-Ikeda Dosan Line

The Tokushima Line (徳島線, Tokushima-sen^?) is a railway line serving Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. Part of Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku), the Tokushima Line connects Sako Station in Tokushima and Tsukuda Station in Miyoshi from west to east in central Tokushima Prefecture. As the line runs along the Yoshino River, it is officially nicknamed the "Yoshino River Blue Line" (よしの川ブルーライン^?). In addition to linking Tokushima and Kōchi prefectures, the line's eastern half serves the city of Tokushima as a commuter line.

Basic data

• Distance: 67.5 km (41.9 mi)
• Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
• Stations: 24
• Double-tracked section: None
• Electrification: None
• Railway signalling:
  • Tsukuda - Tsuji: Single-track Automatic Block Signal (ABS) system
  • Tsuji - Sako: Special Automatic, a simplified automatic system
• Maximum speed: 110 km/h (68 mph)
• CTC center: Takamatsu Operation Control Center

Service

Although the official start of the line is at Tsukuda, rail services from Sako to Tsukuda are considered outbound, with the reverse being inbound. This is to allow for more efficient connecting service to the Dosan Line at Tsukuda.

The Tsurugisan limited express provides the bulk of express services on the line from Awa-Ikeda (on the Dosan Line) and Anabuki to Tokushima and Kaifu (on the Mugi Line). In the March 2009 timetable revision, a single inbound Muroto limited express was established, providing through service to Kaifu on the Mugi Line.

There are approximately two to three local trains per hour, with most trains serving the Tokushima – Awa-Ikeda, Tokushima – Anabuki, and Tokushima – Awa-Kawashima sections. Some trains continue through to the Mugi Line via Tokushima. Local trains are generally driver-only operated, but some daytime and late-night trains between Tokushima and Anabuki, as well as three trains between Anabuki and Awa-Ikeda, often have a conductor on board. Due to the length of platforms, train lengths are limited to a maximum of four cars.

The Tokushima Line serves as a bypass route between Tokushima and Kōchi; in the past, the Asa and Yoshinogawa express and some Tsurugisan limited express services connected the two cities (now passengers must change at Awa-Ikeda to the Nanpū limited express).

History

This section requires expansion.

The first section of the line, between Tokushima and Kawata, opened in 1899 by Tokushima Railway (徳島鉄道, Tokushima-tetsudō^?). The line was extended to Awa-Ikeda in 1914. It was further extended to Minawa in 1931, but this section was later incorporated into the Dosan Line.

Station list

• All stations are located in Tokushima Prefecture.
• Local trains make all stops. For the Tsurugisan and Muroto limited express services please see their respective articles.
• Trains can pass one another at stations marked "◇" and cannot pass at those marked "｜".

*: Although the official start of the Naruto Line is at Ikenotani, most trains travel through on the Kōtoku Line to Tokushima.

See also

• List of railway lines in Japan

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tokushima Line

• (Japanese) JR Shikoku official website