Gotōji Line

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Gotōji Line
Overview
Status	In operation
Owner	JR Kyushu
Locale	Fukuoka Prefecture
Termini	Tagawa-Gotōji Shin-Iizuka
Stations	6
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	JR Kyushu
Rolling stock	KiHa 31 series DMU, KiHa 40 series DMU
History
Opened	1897
Technical
Line length	13.3 km (8.3 mi)
Number of tracks	Entire line single tracked
Character	Rural
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	None
Operating speed	85 km/h (53 mph)
show Route map

The Gotōji Line (後藤寺線, Gotōji-sen) is a Japanese railway line in Fukuoka Prefecture connecting Tagawa-Gotōji Station in the city of Tagawa and Shin-Iizuka Station in the city of Iizuka. It is part of the JR Kyushu network.

Basic data[]

• Operator, distances:
  • Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) (Services and tracks)
    • Tagawa-Gotōji – Shin-Iizuka: 13.3 km (8.3 mi)
• Gauge: Narrow gauge, 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
• Stations: 6
• Double-tracking: None
• Electrification: None
• Railway signalling: Special automatic

Station list[]

• All stations are located in Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Rapid trains, which only operate in the direction of Tagawa-Gotōji, stop at stations marked "●" and pass stations marked "↑".

History[]

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The Hōshū Railway Co. opened the central section of the line in 1897 to haul freight, the company merging with the Kyushu Railway Co. in 1901, which extended the line to Kami-Mio in 1902. That company was nationalised in 1909, and the line extended to Shin-Iizuka in 1920 with passenger services to Funao introduced at that time.

The Kyushu Industrial Railway Co. opened the Funao - Tagawa-Gotoji section in 1922 to service a cement plant. That company was nationalised in 1943, creating the current line. Passenger services were extended to Tagawa-Gotoji in 1945, and freight services ceased in 1987.

Former connecting lines[]

Shimo-Kamoo station -

• A 1 km line to the Asakasa coal mine operated from 1926 until 1945.
• The 8 km Urushio line to Shimo-Yamada (on the Kami-Yamada line, closed in 1986) opened between 1908 and 1913 as a freight line, with passenger services introduced in 1920. Freight services ceased in 1974, and the line closed in 1986.

References[]