Esashi Line Explained

Esashi Line
Native Name:江差線
Native Name Lang:ja
Color:7CFC00
Type:Regional rail
Locale:Hokkaido
Stations:12
Open:15 September 1913
Close:26 March 2016 (Transferred to South Hokkaido Railway)
Owner:JR Hokkaido
Linelength:37.8km (23.5miles)
Electrification:20 kV AC

The was a Japanese railway line formerly operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). It connected (near Hakodate) and .

The section between and closed in May 2014, and the remainder was transferred to third-sector operator South Hokkaido Railway Company in March 2016 following the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen.

Stations

All stations are in Hokkaido.

Track: ∥: Double track, ∨: Double track ends, ◇: Passing loop |: No passing loop

Hakodate – Kikonai section (until March 2016)

StationJapaneseBetween (km)Distance (km)TransfersTrackLocation
Hakodate Main Line, part of Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line
Japanese: 函館-3.4Hakodate City TramHakodate
Esashi Line, part of Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line
Japanese: 五稜郭3.40.0Hakodate Main LineHakodate
Japanese: 七重浜2.72.7 Hokuto
Japanese: 東久根別2.65.3 
Japanese: 久根別1.26.5 
Japanese: 清川口1.17.6 
Japanese: 上磯1.28.8 
Japanese: 茂辺地8.817.6 
Japanese: 渡島当別5.022.6 
Japanese: 釜谷4.927.5 Kikonai
Japanese: 泉沢3.130.6 
Japanese: 札苅3.434.0 
Japanese: 木古内3.837.8Kaikyō Line

Former Kikonai – Esashi section (closed May 2014)

StationJapaneseBetween (km)Distance (km)TransfersTrackLocation
Japanese: 渡島鶴岡2.340.1 Kikonai
Japanese: 吉堀3.143.2 
Japanese: 神明13.256.4 Kaminokuni
Japanese: 湯ノ岱2.859.2 
Japanese: 宮越7.166.3 
Japanese: 桂岡2.268.5 
Japanese: 中須田2.170.6 
Japanese: 上ノ国3.273.8 
Japanese: 江差6.179.9 Esashi

History

The Goryokaku to Kamiiso section opened on 15 September 1913, and was extended to Kikonai on 25 October 1930. The Kikonai to Yunotai section opened on 10 December 1935, and was extended to Esashi on 10 November 1936.

The Goryokaku to Kikonai section was electrified on 13 March 1988 as part of the upgrading of the line associated with the opening of the Seikan Tunnel and associated Kaikyo Line linking Hokkaido to Honshu.

On 7 August 2012, JR Hokkaido announced its intention to close the 42km (26miles) non-electrified section of the line between Kikonai and Esashi in spring 2014 due to a lack of financial viability.[1] In fiscal 2011, the Kikonai to Esashi section was served by six return services daily, with an average patronage of 41 passengers per km daily, the lowest for any of JR Hokkaido's lines.[2] The Kikonai – Esashi section was closed in 2014, with the last services operating on 11 May.[3]

Operations on the remaining section of the line between Goryōkaku and Kikonai was transferred from JR Hokkaido to the newly created South Hokkaido Railway Company when the Hokkaido Shinkansen opened on 26 March 2016.[3]

Former connecting lines

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/economic/394476.html. ja:JR北海道 木古内-江差廃止方針 14年にもバス転換 来月地元に申し入れ. JR Hokkaido to close line between Kikonai and Esashi – bus substitution from spring 2014. 8 August 2012. Doshin Web. The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. Japan. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20120809070716/http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/economic/394476.html. 9 August 2012. 8 August 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: http://www.tetsudo.com/news/758/%E6%B1%9F%E5%B7%AE%E7%B7%9A%E3%81%AE%E6%9C%A8%E5%8F%A4%E5%86%85%EF%BD%9E%E6%B1%9F%E5%B7%AE%E9%96%93%E3%80%81%E5%BB%83%E6%AD%A2%E3%81%B8/. ja:江差線の木古内~江差間、廃止へ. Esashi Line Kikonai to Esashi section to close. 7 September 2012. Tetsudo.com. Asahi Interactive Inc.. Japan. ja. 7 September 2012.
  3. Web site: http://railf.jp/news/2014/05/12/150000.html. ja:江差線木古内—江差間が廃止される. Esashi Line section between Kikonai and Esashi closes. 12 May 2014. Japan Railfan Magazine Online. Koyusha Co., Ltd.. Japan. ja. 12 May 2014.