Chikuhi Line


The Chikuhi Line is a railway line in Kyushu, Japan, connecting Meinohama Station in Fukuoka, Fukuoka to Karatsu Station in Karatsu, Saga, and from Yamamoto Station in Karatsu to Imari Station in Imari, Saga. Trains from Karatsu to Imari use the Karatsu Line to Yamamoto.

Route data

Meinohama to Karatsu/Nishi-Karatsu

Yamamoto to Imari

Rolling stock

A fleet of six new 305 series six-car electric multiple unit commuter trains was introduced on the Chikuhi Line from February 2015.

History

The Kita-Kyushu Railway opened the Fukuyoshi to Hamasaki section in 1923, extending it west to Higashi-Karatsu by 1925 and east to Hakata by 1926. The line was again extended west to Yamamoto where it junctioned with the Karatsu line in 1929, and to Imari in 1935. The company was nationalised in 1937 after which Japanese Government Railways designated the track as the Chikuhi Line.
In 1983, the Hakata to Meinohama section was closed and replaced by a link to the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line. A new line from Nijinomatsubara to Karatsu opened and the entire section was electrified at 1,500 V DC to allow through running to Fukuoka via the subway. At the same time, the original Nijinomatsubara to Yamamoto section closed.