Maizuru Line

The Maizuru Line (舞鶴線, Maizuru-sen) is a 26.4 km (16.4 mi) railway line in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It connects Ayabe and Higashi-Maizuru, the line beyond there being called the Obama Line connecting to Tsuruga.

Maizuru Line
A 113 series train on the Maizuru Line in 2015
Overview
OwnerLogo of the West Railway Company (JR West) JR West
LocaleKyoto Prefecture
Termini
Stations6
Service
TypeHeavy rail
History
Opened1904
Technical
Line length26.4 km (16.4 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead wire

Stations

NameJapaneseDistance
(km)
TransfersLocation
Ayabe綾部0.0 E  Sanin Main LineAyabeKyoto Prefecture
Fuchigaki淵垣5.3
Umezako梅迫8.2
Magura真倉15.5Maizuru
Nishi-Maizuru西舞鶴19.5M Kyoto Tango Railway (Willer Trains) Miyamai Line (M8)
Higashi-Maizuru東舞鶴26.4Obama Line

History

The line opened in the autumn of 1904 to transport troops and materiel to the naval base and Maizuru-Higashi Port during the Russo-Japanese War, which commenced in February of that year.[1] Although built by the Japanese Government, it was initially leased to the Bantsuru Railway Co, which opened the Ayabe – Fukuchiyama section of what is now the Sanin Main Line the same year.

The company was nationalised in 1907, the year the 2 km Maizurukō Line (舞鶴港線) from Nishi-Maizuru to Maizuru Port opened. Passenger services operated on that branch between 1913 and 1924, and it closed in 1985.

Nishi-Maizuru was also the junction for the 4 km Naka-Maizuru Line (中舞鶴線) to Naka-Maizuru which operated between 1919 and 1972.[1]

The line was electrified in 1999.[1]

From the start of the revised timetable on 13 March 2021, Rapid trains that passed through Magura Station were discontinued and were changed to Local trains.[2]

From the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2023, 125 series trainsets began operation on the Maizuru Line.[3]

References