Asatō Line

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Asa Seaside Railway Asato Line
Asa-kaigan-railway DMV.jpg
DMV will have been operated on Asato Line since 2021, based on Toyota Coaster
Overview
Other name(s)Awa-Muroto Seaside Line
Native name阿佐海岸鉄道阿佐東線
StatusOperational
OwnerAsa Seaside Railway Company
LocaleTokushima Prefecture and Kochi Prefecture
TerminiAwa-Kainan
Kannoura
Stations4
Service
TypeRegional rail
Operator(s)Asa Seaside Railway Company
History
Opened26 March 1992
Technical
Line length10.0 km (6.2 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (54 mph)

The Asatō Line (阿佐東線, Asatō-sen, "Asa East Line") is a Japanese railway line connecting Kaifu Station, Kaiyō and Kannoura Station, Tōyō. Together with JR Shikoku's Mugi Line, it has the official nickname Awa Muroto Seaside Line (阿波室戸シーサイドライン, Awa Muroto Shīsaido Rain). This is the only railway line operated by Asa Kaigan Railway (阿佐海岸鉄道, Asa Kaigan Tetsudō, "Asa Coastal Railway"). The company's name is abbreviated to the portmandeau Asatetsu (阿佐鉄). Since the line goes through a relatively sparsely populated area, it is under severe business stress, to the point where closure of the line has been proposed.

The railway company will commence operating road–rail vehicles, known as DMV (dual-mode vehicle) in Japan, on Asato Line from 2021. Such a vehicle, claimed to be the first in the world, will allow through service to area without rail track laid. To prepare for the plan, this rail line have been disconnected with Mugi Line from summer 2019.

History[]

Japanese National Railways started the construction of the eastern section of the Asa Line in 1959, proposed to reach Muroto, where it would connect with the planned extension of the western section of the Asa line from Kochi.

The first 12km section to Kaifu opened in 1973, and further construction was undertaken until work was suspended in 1980. In 1988 construction work south of Kaifu was re-started by the Asa Kaigan Railway, the newly founded third-sector company. The Kaifu - Kannoura section, now called the Asatō Line, opened in 1992.

The western portion of the planned Asa Line opened as the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Asa Line to Nahari in 2002. The Kannoura - Nahari section of the proposed Asa line has not been constructed. The proposed stations were None, Muroto, Kiragawa and Tosa-Hane.

Awa-Kainan Station has been transferred to Asa Seaside Railway since 1 November 2020 as constructed changeover facilities. And, this railway line had suspended since 1 December 2020 and bustitution has run until this company finishes constructing DMV facilities.

  • ASA-101 series which withdrew in 30 November 2020

DMV[]

DMV which is able to be used as buses and trains for going to the direction of Cape Muroto from Awa-Kainan Station is run for the first time in the world from 2021. So, this company constructed changeover facilities that switch over trains from buses at the station in 2020.

On 10 January 2019, since DMV will have been operated on Asato Line since 2021, Asa Seaside Railway moved parking area and bus terminal near Kannoura Station to south side for 50m due to construction of changeover facilities.[1] What is more, on 1 December 2020, bustitution operated by JR Shikoku Bus commenced running in between Mugi Station and Kannoura Station[2][3] due to construction of DMV. Besides, on 1 February 2021, bustitution was abbreviated from Mugi Station to Awa-Kainan Station.

  • The end of Awa-Kanina Station

  • Changeover facilities of DMV

  • This railway will have discontinued interconnection with JR Shikoku Mugi Line in 2021 due to construction of DMV

Basic data[]

  • Distance: 10.0 km / 6.2 mi.
  • Gauge: 1,067 mm / 3 ft. 6 in.
  • Stations: 4
  • Double-track line: None
  • Electric supply: Not electrified
  • Railway signalling: Simplified automatic

Stations[]

No. Name Distance (km) Connections Location
M27 Awa-Kainan 阿波海南 0.0 Shikoku Railway Company: Mugi Line (M27) Mugi, Kaifu District,
Tokushima Prefecture
AK28 Kaifu 海部 1.5 Kaiyō, Kaifu District,
Tokushima Prefecture
AK29 Shishikui 宍喰 7.6  
AK30 Kannoura 甲浦 10.0   Tōyō, Aki District,
Kōchi Prefecture

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Moved parking area and buseterminal
  2. ^ "阿佐東線、DMV対応工事で12月から全線運休 バス代行輸送". レイルラボ(RailLab) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  3. ^ "時刻表" (in Japanese). 阿佐海岸鉄道. Retrieved 2021-01-26.

External links[]


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