The Hōjō Line (北条線, Hōjō-sen) is a Japanese railway line in Hyōgo Prefecture, between Ao, Ono and Hōjōmachi, Kasai. This is the only railway line operated by Hojo Railway Company (北条鉄道株式会社, Hōjō Tetsudō Kabushikigaisha). The third sector company took former Japanese National Railways line in 1985. The line links Hōjō, a central town of Kasai, and two railway lines, namely JR West Kakogawa Line and Shintetsu Ao Line.

Hōjō Line
Furawa 2000 Series train at Ao Station
Overview
Native name北条線
StatusIn operation
OwnerHojo Railway Company
LocaleHyōgo Prefecture
Termini
  • Ao
  • Hōjōmachi
Stations8
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Hojo Railway Company
Rolling stockFlower 2000 series DMU, KiHa 40 series DMU
History
Opened1915
Technical
Line length13.6 km (8.5 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed65 km/h (40 mph)

Basic data

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  • Distance: 13.6 km / 8.5 mi.
  • Gauge: 1,067 mm / 3 ft. 6 in.
  • Stations: 8
  • Double-track line: None
  • Electric supply: Not electrified
  • Railway signalling: Staff token

History

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The Banshū Railway (播州鉄道, Banshū Tetsudō) opened the line in 1915. The railway was acquired by the Bantan Railway (播丹鉄道, Bantan Tetsudō) in 1923 and nationalised in 1943 together with other Bantan Railway lines, i.e. the Kakogawa Line, the Takasago Line, the Miki Line and the Kajiya Line.[1]

Freight services ceased in 1974, and in 1985 the Hojo Railway Company commenced operating the line.

Accidents

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On 31 March 1945 a Kawanishi N1K fighter on a test flight made an emergency landing near Abiki that damaged the line resulting in a derailment that killed 11 and injured 104 passengers.

Stations

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Station name in Japanese Distance
(km)
Connecting lines Location
Ao 粟生 0.0 JR West: Kakogawa Line
Kobe Electric Railway: Ao Line
Ono Hyōgo
Abiki 網引 3.5   Kasai
Tahara 田原 4.6  
Hokkeguchi 法華口 6.1  
Harima-Shimosato 播磨下里 8.0  
Osa 9.8  
Harima-Yokota 播磨横田 11.4  
Hōjōmachi 北条町 13.6  

See also

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References

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  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). Vol. I. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 171. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.

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

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