Aichi Loop Line

Local train at Yakusa Station

Aichi Loop Line (愛知環状鉄道線, Aichi Kanjō Tetsudō-sen, "Aichi Loop Railway Line") is a Japanese railway line between Okazaki Station, Okazaki and Kōzōji Station, Kasugai, operated by Aichi Loop Railway (愛知環状鉄道, Aichi Kanjō Tetsudō). The company or the line is abbreviated as Aikan (愛環). This is the only line the company operates. Contrary to its name, the line is not a true loop, but a north-south line east to central Nagoya, which can be considered as an unclosed loop.

Aichi Loop Railway is a third sector (in Japanese sense) company, shares hld by public sector such as Aichi Prefecture, the city of Toyota, and also by private companies. Unlike typical third sector lines in Japan, Aichi Loop Line is steadily making a profit, since the line functions as a commuter rail for nearby Toyota Motor factories.

Basic data

• Operators, distances:
  • Aichi Loop Railway (Category 1)
    • Okazaki - Kōzōji: 45.3 km (ca. 28.1 mi.)
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (Category 2)
    • Okazaki — Kita-Okazaki: 5.3 km (ca. 3.3 mi.)
    • Freight operation ceased in 1999.
• Gauge: 1067 mm (3 ft. 6 in.)
• Stations: 23
• Track:
  • Double: Naka-Okazaki - Kita-Okazaki, Kitano-Masuzuka - Mikawa-Kamigō, Setoshi - Kōzōji
  • Single: the rest
• Electric supply: 1500 V DC
• Railway signalling: Automatic (ATS-ST)

History

The first section of the line, between Okazaki and Kitano-Masuzuka, originally started in 1970 as Okata Line (岡多線), a freight rail line of JNR. The section between Kitano-Masuzuka and Shin-Toyota was extended and the whole line started a passenger service in 1976. Another part of the line, between Setoshi and Kōzōji, was originally planned as JNR Seto Line, a once cancelled freight line. Okata Line, merged with the planned Seto Line route and the link between two, was renamed as Aichi Loop Line in 1988. Concurrently, newly founded Aichi Loop Line Company succeeded the line from JR Central.

Services

There is no rapid service. All trains make stop at all stations. Trains run 2 times per an hour in daytime, 3 or 4 times per an hour in morning and evening.

Stations

All stations are in Aichi Prefecture.

Station			Dist. (km)	Transfers	Location
01	Okazaki	岡崎	0.0	JR-C: Tōkaidō Main Line	Okazaki
02	Mutsuna	六名	1.7
03	Naka-Okazaki	中岡崎	3.4	Meitetsu: Nagoya Line (Okazaki-​Kōen-​Mae)
04	Kita-Okazaki	北岡崎	5.3
05	Daimon	大門	6.5
06	Kitano-Masuzuka	北野桝塚	8.7
07	Mikawa-Kamigō	三河上郷	10.7		Toyota
08	Ekaku	永覚	12.4
09	Suenohara	末野原	14.0
10	Mikawa-Toyota	三河豊田	15.9
11	Shin-Uwagoromo	新上挙母	17.6	Meitetsu: Mikawa Line (Uwagoromo)
12	Shin-Toyota	新豊田	19.5	Meitetsu: Mikawa Line (Toyotashi)
13	Aikan-Umetsubo	愛環梅坪	21.5
14	Shigō	四郷	23.5
15	Kaizu	貝津	25.5
16	Homi	保見	26.8
17	Sasabara	篠原	29.2
18	Yakusa	八草	32.0	Aichi Rapid Transit: Linimo (L09)
19	Yamaguchi	山口	34.6		Seto
20	Setoguchi	瀬戸口	36.7
21	Setoshi	瀬戸市	39.1	Meitetsu: Seto Line (Shin-​Seto)
22	Nakamizuno	中水野	41.9
23	Kōzōji	高蔵寺	45.3	JR-C: Chūō Main Line	Kasugai
Through service to/from Nagoya, via Chūō Main Line

See also

• List of railway lines in Japan
• Tokai Transport Service Johoku Line

External links

• Template:Ja icon Aikan official website