The Ryūgasaki Line (竜ヶ崎線, Ryūgasaki-sen) is a railway line operated by the Kantō Railway in Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan. It is a non-electrified line which connects Sanuki, on the Jōban Line, to Ryūgasaki, with one intermediate station at Ireji.[1]

Ryūgasaki Line
Kanto Railway KiHa 532 DMU in August 2007
Overview
StatusIn operation
OwnerKantō Railway
LocaleIbaraki Prefecture
Termini
Stations3
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemKantō Railway
Operator(s)Kantō Railway
Rolling stockKiHa 532 series DMU, KiHa 2000 series DMU
History
Opened1900
Technical
Line length4.5 km (2.8 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Old gauge762 mm (2 ft 6 in)
Minimum radius207 m (679 ft)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed50 km/h (31 mph)

History

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The Ryuzaki Railway Co. opened the line on 14 August 1900 as a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge steam-operated line. The line was regauged to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) in July 1915.

The company merged with the Kashima Sangu Railway Co. in 1944, which merged with the Kanto Railway Co. in 1965.

Freight services ceased in 1971, the same year the line switched to driver-only-operation (in August 1971), becoming the first driver-only-operation line in Japan.[1]

Stations

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Station Japanese Distance
(km)
Transfers Location
Sanuki 佐貫 0.0 Jōban Line Ryūgasaki Ibaraki
Prefecture
Ireji 入地 2.2
Ryūgasaki 竜ヶ崎 4.5

References

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

  1. ^ a b Terada, Hirokazu (July 2002). データブック日本の私鉄 (Databook: Japan's Private Railways). Japan: Neko Publishing. ISBN 4-87366-874-3.