Yunomae Line

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Kumagawa Railroad local train

The Yunomae Line (湯前線, Yunomae-sen) is a railway line in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, connecting Hitoyoshi-Onsen Station in Hitoyoshi and Yunomae Station in Yunomae. It is the only railway line operated by the third sector Kumagawa Railroad (くま川鉄道, Kumagawa Tetsudō). As the company name suggests, the line parallels the Kuma River. The company is also called Kumatetsu (くま鉄). The company took former JR Kyushu line in 1989.

History[]

The entire line was opened by the then Japanese Government Railways in 1924.

Freight services ceased beyond Taragi in 1974, and on the balance of the line in 1980.

The third sector company took over the former JNR line in 1989.

Basic data[]

  • Distance: 24.8 km / 15.4 mi.
  • Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
  • Stations: 14
  • Double-track line: None
  • Electric supply: Not electrified
  • Railway signalling
    • Hitoyoshi-Onsen – Asagiri: Tablet token
    • Asagiri – Yunomae: Staff token
  • Stations with passing loops: 1 (Asagiri Station)

Stations[]

Station Distance
(km) 		Notes Location
Hitoyoshi-Onsen Station 0.0 formerly Hitoyoshi
Connection to JR Kyushu Hisatsu Line (Hitoyoshi Station) 		Hitoyoshi Kumamoto
1.5 formerly Higashi-Hitoyoshi
4.4 Sagara
5.8 Nishiki
9.2  
11.3  
13.0 Asagiri
15.0 formerly Menda
17.4  
18.5 Taragi
19.8  
21.7  
23.3  
Yunomae Station 24.8   Yunomae

Financial situation[]

The company's railway operations have not produced an operating profit since its creation in 1989, and in fiscal 2011, it had operating profit losses of 120.76 million yen.[1]

Rolling stock[]

As of June 2012, the company operates a fleet of eight diesel cars. With the exception of two tourist trains, these are scheduled to be replaced by five new diesel cars between fiscal 2013 and 2014. The new trains will be designed by industrial designer Eiji Mitooka.[1]

All five diesel cars were inundated on Hitoyoshi Onsen Station during torrential rains on 4 July 2020.[2] As of 6 July 2020, all services are suspended until further notice, due to severe damage caused by the rainfall, including the complete destruction of a large bridge over the Kuma River. No set date for resumption of service has been confirmed. In May 2021, it was officially announced that the line would be restored as a railway, with the national government paying 97.5 % of the restoration cost, with the remaining 2.5 % being paid for by local governments. The restoration cost is estimated to be around 4.6 billion yen.

See also[]

References[]

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b 水戸岡さんデザイン最後の車両に？ くま川鉄道 [Kumagawa Railroad - Last trains to be designed by Eiji Mitooka?]. Kumanichi.com (in Japanese). Japan: Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Heavy rain halts Kumamoto railway, flooding trains". 6 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.

External links[]

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