| Native name | 智頭急行株式会社 |
|---|---|
| Company type | Third sector |
| Genre | Rail transport |
| Founded | 31 May 1986 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Area served | Hyōgo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures |
| Services | Passenger railway |
| Website | www |
The Chizu Express Company (智頭急行株式会社, Chizu kyūkō Kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese third-sector railway that connects Hyōgo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures. The Chizu Line is not electrified, but is a high-grade railroad, and extends a total of 56.1 kilometres. The limited expresses Super Hakuto and Super Inaba operate on this line.
Chizu Express Chizu Line
| Chizu Express Chizu Line | |
|---|---|
 A Chizu Express HOT7000 series train | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | 智頭急行智頭線 |
| Status | In operation |
| Owner | Chizu Express |
| Locale | Hyōgo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 14 |
| Service | |
| Type | Regional rail |
| Operator(s) | Chizu Express |
| Rolling stock | HOT7000 series DMU, HOT3500 series DMU, KiHa 187 series DMU |
| History | |
| Opened | 3 December 1994 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 56.1 km (34.9 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Entire line single tracked |
| Character | Rural |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Minimum radius | 260 m |
| Electrification | None |
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
Some local trains operate through from the JR West Inbi Line (Tottori - Chizu).
| Name | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamigōri | 上郡 | 0.0 |   Sanyo Main Line
|
Hyōgo | Kamigōri, Akō District |
| Kokenawa | 苔縄 | 4.8 | |||
| Konohara-Enshin | 河野原円心 | 7.4 | |||
| Kuzaki | 久崎 | 12.2 | Sayō, Sayō District | ||
| Sayo | 佐用 | 17.2 |  Kishin Line
| ||
| Hirafuku | 平福 | 22.5 | |||
| Ishii | 石井 | 27.1 | |||
| Miyamoto Musashi | 宮本武蔵 | 30.6 | Okayama | Mimasaka | |
| Ōhara | 大原 | 33.2 | |||
| Nishi-Awakura | 西粟倉 | 37.4 | Nishiawakura, Aida District | ||
| Awakura-Onsen | あわくら温泉 | 40.6 | |||
| Yamasato | 山郷 | 47.2 | Tottori | Chizu, Yazu District | |
| Koi-Yamagata | 恋山形 | 50.0 | |||
| Chizu | 智頭 | 56.1 |  Inbi Line
| ||
| Through service to Tottori on the Inbi Line | |||||
History
Construction of the line was approved under the Railway Construction Act in 1922, and commenced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in June 1966. Work was well advanced when a freeze on expenditure in 1980 resulted in construction being halted with 95% of the route acquired and 93% of the earthworks completed.
The Tottori Prefectural Government facilitated the establishment of the Chizu Express Company in May 1986, which resumed construction.
The line opened on December 3, 1994, and includes the 5,592 m Shitozaka tunnel.
From November 29, 1997, the JR limited express Super Inaba service commenced between Okayama and Tottori.
See also
References
- ^ Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 158. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- "Company history books (Shashi)". Shashi Interest Group. April 2016. Wiki collection of bibliographic works on Chizu Express