Aichi Loop Line

Aichi Loop Line
Local train at Yakusa Station
Overview
Stations	23
Service
Operator(s)	Aichi Loop Railway
Technical
Line length	45.3 km
Track gauge	1067 mm
Operating speed	110 km/h
Route map Map of Aichi loop line and other nearby lines

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. Despite 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 held 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: 1,067 mm (3 ft. 6 in.)
• Stations: 23
• Track:
  • Double: Naka-Okazaki - Kita-Okazaki, Kitano-Masuzuka - Mikawa-Kamigō, Mikawa-Toyota - Shin-Toyota, Setoshi - Kōzōji
  • Single: the rest
• Electric supply: 1,500 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 stop at every station. Two trains per an hour run during the daytime, with three or four per an hour in morning and evening peaks.

Station list

• All stations are located in Aichi Prefecture.
• Trains can pass each other at stations marked "◇", "^", and "v".

Station Number	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers		Location
			Between Stations	Total
01	Okazaki	岡崎	-	0.0	JR Central: Tōkaidō Main Line	｜	Okazaki
02	Mutsuna	六名	1.7	1.7		◇
03	Naka-Okazaki	中岡崎	1.7	3.4	Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu): Nagoya Line (Okazaki-Kōen-Mae)	^
04	Kita-Okazaki	北岡崎	1.9	5.3		v
05	Aichi	大門	1.2	6.5		｜
06	Kitano-Masuzuka	北野桝塚	2.2	8.7		^
07	Mikawa-Kamigō	三河上郷	2.0	10.7		v	Toyota
08	Ekaku	永覚	1.7	12.4		｜
09	Suenohara	末野原	1.6	14.0		◇
10	Mikawa-Toyota	三河豊田	1.9	15.9		^
11	Shin-Uwagoromo	新上挙母	1.7	17.6	Meitetsu: Mikawa Line (Uwagoromo)	∥
12	Shin-Toyota	新豊田	1.9	19.5	Meitetsu: Mikawa Line (Toyotashi)	v
13	Aikan-Umetsubo	愛環梅坪	2.0	21.5		｜
14	Shigō	四郷	2.0	23.5		◇
15	Kaizu	貝津	2.0	25.5		｜
16	Homi	保見	1.3	26.8		◇
17	Sasabara	篠原	2.4	29.2		◇
18	Yakusa	八草	2.8	32.0	Aichi Rapid Transit: Linimo (L09)	◇
19	Aichi	山口	2.6	34.6		◇	Seto
20	Setoguchi	瀬戸口	2.1	36.7		◇
21	Setoshi	瀬戸市	2.4	39.1	Meitetsu: Seto Line (Shin-Seto)	^
22	Nakamizuno	中水野	2.8	41.9		∥
23	Kōzōji	高蔵寺	3.4	45.3	JR Central: Chūō Main Line	∥	Kasugai

See also

• Media related to Aichi Loop Line at Wikimedia Commons
• List of railway lines in Japan
• Tokai Transport Service Johoku Line

External links

• Aikan official website Template:Ja icon