Fujikyuko Line

The Fujikyuko Line (富士急行線, Fuji-Kyūkō-sen) is a Japanese private railway line in Yamanashi Prefecture, between Ōtsuki Station in Ōtsuki and Kawaguchiko Station in Fujikawaguchiko. It is the only railway line operated by Fuji Kyuko.

Fujikyuko Line
8500 series Fujisan View Express
Overview
Native name富士急行線
LocaleYamanashi Prefecture
Termini
  • Ōtsuki
  • Kawaguchiko
Stations18
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Operator(s)Fuji Kyuko
History
OpenedSeptember 21, 1900
Technical
Line length26.6 km (16.5 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead lines
Route map

0.0
Ōtsuki
0.6
Kamiōtsuki
3.0
Tanokura
Katsura River
5.6
Kasei
7.1
Akasaka
8.6
Tsurushi
9.4
Yamuramachi
10.6
Tsuru-bunkadaigaku-mae
Katsura River
11.5
Tōkaichiba
13.1
Higashi-Katsura
15.8
Mitsutōge
18.8
Kotobuki
Chūō Expressway
20.2
Yoshiikeonsenmae
21.1
Shimoyoshida
21.9
Gekkōji
↑Ōtsuki Line
23.6
Mt. Fuji
↓Kawaguchiko Line
25.0
Fujikyu-Highland
Chūō Expressway
26.6
Kawaguchiko

The railway line officially consists of the Ōtsuki Line (大月線, Ōtsuki-sen) and Kawaguchiko Line (河口湖線, Kawaguchiko-sen), but the two lines are operated as one. The line can be traced back to the Tsuru Horse-drawn Tramway (都留馬車鉄道) which began operation in 1900.[citation needed]

Service outline

Local trains (which stop at all stations) run about every 30 minutes. As well as these, several Fujisan Tokkyu (Mount Fuji express) services are operated. The line is mountainous, climbing from Otsuki (358 meters (1,175 ft) above sea level) to Kawaguchiko (857 meters (2,812 ft) above sea level): a 500-metre (1,640 ft) ascent over the 26.6-kilometre (16.5 mi) route. In many places, Mount Fuji can be seen from the train.

The Fujikyuko Line is the only railway service to access the northern Yamanashi side of Mount Fuji and Fuji Five Lakes, part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. However, direct and frequent highway bus services from Shinjuku terminal to Fujiyoshida and Kawaguchiko are faster and more convenient when travelling from Tokyo. There are not many direct services from Tokyo to the Fuji Kyūkō Line apart from a few seasonal rapid trains at weekends and some local commuter trains.

Fuji Kyuko railway and bus lines accept Pasmo, Suica, and other IC farecards. The railway was provided with the capability from 14 March 2015.[1]

The Fuji Kyuko established "Fuji Sanroku Electric Railway" (Ja:富士山麓電気鉄道/ Fuji Sanroku Denki Tetsudo) in May 2021 because the company will split Fuji Kyuko railway department from 1 April 2022. And, Fujikyuko Line will surely belong to "Fuji San-Roku Denki Tetsudo" from 1 April 2022.[2][3]

Basic data

  • Distance (Ōtsuki — Kawaguchiko): 26.6 km
    • Ōtsuki Line (Ōtsuki — Mt. Fuji): 23.6 km
    • Kawaguchiko Line (Mt. Fuji — Kawaguchiko): 3.0 km

It is a single-track railway, but there are passing loops at about half the stations. The Ōtsuki Line runs roughly SW from Ōtsuki to Mount Fuji), and the Kawaguchiko Line runs roughly NW from Mount Fuji to Kawaguchiko.

Stations

Legend
O: Trains stop at this station
|: Trains do not stop at this station

LineStation No.Station nameElevation
(m)
Distance (km)Limited
Express
TransfersLocation
Between
stations
Cumulative
Ōtsuki LineFJ01Ōtsuki大月358-0.0OChūō Main LineŌtsuki
FJ02Kamiōtsuki (some trains stop)上大月3580.60.6| 
FJ03Tanokura田野倉3922.43.0|Tsuru
FJ04Kasei禾生4212.65.6|
FJ05Akasaka赤坂4451.57.1|
FJ06Tsurushi都留市4671.58.6O
FJ07Yamuramachi谷村町4840.89.4|
FJ08Tsurubunkadaigakumae都留文科大学前5031.210.6O
FJ09Tōkaichiba十日市場5200.911.5|
FJ10Higashikatsura東桂5611.613.1|
FJ11Mitsutōge三つ峠6162.715.8|Nishikatsura
FJ12Kotobuki寿7103.018.8|Fujiyoshida
FJ13Yoshiikeonsenmae葭池温泉前7391.420.2|
FJ14Shimoyoshida下吉田7530.921.1O
FJ15Gekkōji月江寺7760.821.9|
FJ16Mt. Fuji富士山8091.723.6O
Kawaguchiko Line
FJ17Fujikyu-Highland富士急ハイランド8291.425.0OFujikawaguchiko
FJ18Kawaguchiko河口湖8571.626.6O

History

The Tsuru Horse-drawn Tramway opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line from Tsurushi to Shimoyoshida in 1900.[citation needed] In 1903, the Fuji Horse-drawn Tramway opened a 610 mm (2 ft) gauge line from Otsuki to Kasei, the same year the Tsuru Horse-drawn Tramway was extended from Tsurushi to Kasei, and from Shimoyoshida to Fuji-yoshida (present-day Fujisan).[citation needed]In 1921, the two companies merged, converted the Otsuki to Kasei section to 762 mm gauge, and electrified the line.[citation needed]

On 18 September 1926, the Fuji Electric Railway (富士山麓電気鉄道) was founded, and on 19 June 1929, it started operating a new 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) line from Otsuki to Fuji-yoshida, electrified at 1,500 V DC overhead.[4] The line was extended from Fuji-yoshida to Kawaguchiko, opening on 24 August 1950.[4] The operating company was renamed Fujikyuko from 25 May 1960.[4]

Freight services on the line were discontinued from 1 April 1978.[4]

Rolling stock

Former rolling stock

The last remaining 2000 series set was withdrawn after its final run on 7 February 2016.[8]

  • Fujikyu 5000 series (Tomasland Express services, 2007 - 2019)

See also

References

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

External links