The Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line (鹿島臨海鉄道大洗鹿島線, Kashima Rinkai Tetsudō Ōarai Kashima-sen) is a 53.0 km Japanese railway line in Ibaraki Prefecture, which connects Mito Station in Mito with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station in Kashima. It is owned and run by the third-sector railway operating company Kashima Rinkai Railway (KRT).

Ōarai Kashima Line
A Kashima Rinkai Railway 6000 series diesel railcar in August 2007
Overview
Native name鹿島臨海鉄道大洗鹿島線
StatusIn operation
OwnerKashima Rinkai Railway
LocaleIbaraki Prefecture
Termini
Stations15
Service
Operator(s)Kashima Rinkai Railway
Depot(s)None
Rolling stock6000 series DMU, 8000 series DMU, KRD series diesel locomotive
History
Opened14 March 1985
Technical
Line length53.0 km (32.9 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural and urban
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Minimum radius500 m
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed95 km/h (59 mph)

Stations

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Line Station Japanese Between (km) Distance (km) Transfers Location
Ōarai Kashima Mito 水戸 - 0.0 Jōban Line
Suigun Line
Mito
Higashi-Mito 東水戸 3.8 3.8  
Tsunezumi 常澄 4.5 8.3  
Ōarai 大洗 3.3 11.6   Ōarai
Hinuma 涸沼 6.4 18.0   Hokota
Kashima-Asahi 鹿島旭 4.8 22.8  
Tokushuku 徳宿 3.9 26.7  
Shin-Hokota 新鉾田 4.3 31.0  
Kitaurakohan 北浦湖畔 3.9 34.9  
Taiyō 大洋 4.1 39.0  
Kashimanada 鹿島灘 4.1 43.1   Kashima
Kashima-Ōno 鹿島大野 3.0 46.1  
Chōjagahamashiosaihamanasukōenmae 長者ヶ浜潮騒はまなす公園前 2.3 48.4  
Kōyadai 荒野台 1.7 50.1  
Kashima Soccer Stadium 鹿島サッカースタジアム 2.9 53.0 Kashima Rinkō Line
Kashima Line
Kashima-Jingū 鹿島神宮 3.2 - Kashima Line

Rolling stock

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As of 1 April 2017, passenger services on the line were operated by a fleet of 15 6000 series diesel railcars and three 8000 series diesel railcars.[1] The railway also operates three diesel locomotives: Class KRD locomotive number KRD 5 and two Class KRD64 locomotives, KRD64-1 and KRD64-2.[1]

The first 8000 series diesel car, 8001, entered revenue service on 26 March 2016.[1]

6000 series fleet details

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The individual car histories of the 6000 series fleet are as follows.[2]

Car No. Manufacturer Date delivered Date withdrawn
6001 Nippon Sharyo 14 January 1985  
6002 14 January 1985 7 January 2017[1]
6003 14 January 1985  
6004 14 January 1985  
6005 14 January 1985  
6006 14 January 1985  
6007 28 February 1987  
6008 28 February 1987 28 March 2016
6009 25 August 1989  
6010 25 August 1989  
6011 25 August 1989  
6012 25 August 1989 28 March 2016
6013 1 September 1990  
6014 1 September 1990  
6015 1 September 1990  
6016 13 July 1992  
6017 13 July 1992  
6018 30 March 1994  
6019 30 March 1994 7 January 2017[1]

8000 series fleet details

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The individual car histories of the 8000 series fleet are as follows.[2]

Car No. Manufacturer Date delivered Date withdrawn
8001 Niigata Transys 16 February 2016  
8002 7 January 2017  
8003 7 January 2017  

Former rolling stock

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The following types also previously operated on the line.

  • 2000 series DMU cars 2001 to 2004 (former JNR KiHa 20 series cars, operated from December 1985 until December 1991)[2]
  • 7000 series two-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) train owned by Ibaraki Prefecture and reserved for special event services.[3] (Operated from 1992 until October 2015)[2]

2000 series fleet details

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The individual car histories of the 2000 series fleet were as follows.[2]

Car No. Manufacturer Built Former number Date introduced Date withdrawn
2001 Nippon Sharyo January 1961 KiHa 20 429 18 December 1985 29 December 1991
2002 Teikoku Sharyo May 1961 KiHa 20 421 18 December 1985 23 December 1989
2003 Tokyu Car February 1960 KiHa 20 274 25 December 1985 12 October 1990
2004 Tokyu Car April 1959 KiHa 20 273 25 December 1985 29 December 1991

7000 series fleet details

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The individual car histories of the two-car 7000 series set were as follows.[2]

Car No. Manufacturer Date delivered Date withdrawn
7001 Nippon Sharyo 13 July 1992 24 October 2015
7002

History

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The line opened on 14 March 1985 between Mito and Kita-Kashima (now Kashima Soccer Stadium) stations.[4]

Freight operations over the line commenced from 1 November 1989, but were discontinued from 16 March 1996.[4]

Wanman driver-only operation began on the line from 1 April 2001.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e 私鉄車両編成表 2017 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2017] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2017. pp. 20, 196. ISBN 978-4-330-81317-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Terada, Hirokazu (April 2018). 国鉄・JR転換線探訪 鹿島臨海鉄道大洗鹿島線 [Visiting lines transferred from JNR/JR - Kashima Rinkai Railway Oarai Kashima Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 58, no. 684. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. p. 112.
  3. ^ 私鉄車両編成表 2015 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 23 July 2015. p. 20. ISBN 978-4-330-58415-7.
  4. ^ a b c Terada, Hirokazu (July 2002). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 41/190. ISBN 4-87366-874-3.