Naruto Line


The Naruto Line is a railway line in Japan operated by Shikoku Railway Company. It connects Ikenotani Station and Naruto Station in Naruto, Tokushima.

History

In 1916 the Awa Electric Railway Co. opened a line from Nakahara to Naruto, including the Yoshinari - Ikenotani section, which is now part of the Kotoku Line.
In 1933 the company was nationalised.
CTC signalling was commissioned in 1977, and freight services ceased in 1984.

Former connecting lines

Although the official start of the line is at Ikenotani, rail services from Naruto are considered outbound, with the reverse being inbound. This is to allow for more efficient connecting service to the Kōtoku Line at Ikenotani.
All regular trains are local service trains. Most trains run through to, with a few with service through onto the Mugi Line. There is no through service to or from, forcing passengers to transfer at Ikenotani. Moreover, connections to the Uzushio limited express service on the Kōtoku Line are poor, with waits of thirty minutes to an hour for a train.
Some trains are wanman driver-only operated, with others also having a conductor on board. Due to short platform lengths, the trains of three cars or more only allow the doors of certain cars to open at those stations. In addition, the entire line is single-tracked, with no passing permitted anywhere along the line except at the terminuses of Ikenotani and Naruto.

Station list