Takasago Line

The Takasago Line (高砂線, Takasago-sen) was an 8.0-kilometer long railway line of Japanese National Railways between Kakogawa and Takasago all within Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This line existed between 1913 and 1984.

History

The Banshū Railway (播州鉄道, Banshū Tetsudō) opened the line between Kakogawachō and Takasagoguchi (2.9 miles) on December 1, 1913. The line was extended 1.9 miles to Takasagoura on September 25, 1914 completing the 4.8-mile line. The 0.9-mile section between Takasago and Takasagoura ceased passenger service in 1921.[1]

The railway was acquired by the Bantan Railway (播丹鉄道, Bantan Tetsudō) in 1923 and nationalized in 1943 together with other Bantan Railway lines, i.e. the Kakogawa Line, the Kajiya Line, the Miki Line and the Hōjō Line. At the time of nationalization, Kakogawachō Station was merged to JGR Kakogawa Station and Takasagoura Station was renamed Takasagokō Station.[1]

Japanese National Railways (JNR) included the line in the list of specified local lines to be closed, and closed it for freight service (completely closing the freight-only Takasago–Takasagokō section) on February 1, 1984 and for passenger service on December 1, 1984.[1]

Stations

As of 1984, the line had seven stations:[2]

Name		Distance (km)	Connections	Location
Kakogawa	加古川	0.0	Sanyo Main Line, Kakogawa Line	Kakogawa	Hyōgo
Noguchi	野口	2.0
Kakurinji	鶴林寺	2.7
Onoe	尾上	3.7
Takasago-Kitaguchi	高砂北口	5.7		Takasago
Takasago	高砂	6.3
Takasagokō (Freight)	高砂港	8.0

Passengers

The fares of Takasago Line were cheap, but Takasago Line has few trains, so it was not comfortable. Because of that, most of passengers were high school students.

References

1. Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory - JNR/JR] (in Japanese). I. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 171. ISBN 4533029809.
2. Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory - JNR/JR] (in Japanese). II. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 242. ISBN 4533029809.