Esashi Line
{{Short description|Railway line in Japan, 1913 to 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Esashi Line
| native_name = 江差線
| native_name_lang = ja
| color = 7CFC00
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Esasigou.JPG
| image_width = 300px
| caption =
| type = Regional rail
| system =
| status =
| locale = Hokkaido
| start = {{STN|Goryōkaku|x}}
| end = {{STN|Kikonai|x}}
| stations = 12
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 15 September 1913
| close = 26 March 2016 (Transferred to South Hokkaido Railway)
| owner = JR Hokkaido
| operator =
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{Convert|37.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| electrification = 20 kV AC
| speed =
| elevation =
| minradius =
| map = File:JR_Esashi_Line_linemap.svg
| map_state =
}}
The {{nihongo|Esashi Line|江差線|Esashi-sen}} was a Japanese railway line formerly operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). It connected {{STN|Goryōkaku|x}} (near Hakodate) and {{STN|Esashi|x}}.
The section between {{STN|Kikonai|x}} and {{STN|Esashi|x}} 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)=
| class="wikitable" rules="all" |
| Station
!Japanese !style="width:2.5em;"|Between (km) !style="width:3.2em;"|Distance (km) !Transfers !style="width:1em;"|Track !Location |
|---|
| colspan=7 |Hakodate Main Line, part of Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line |
| {{STN|Hakodate|x}}
|{{lang|ja|函館}} |style="text-align:center;"| - |style="text-align:right;"|3.4 |Hakodate City Tram |∥ |
| colspan=7|Esashi Line, part of Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line |
| {{STN|Goryōkaku|x}}
|{{lang|ja|五稜郭}} |style="text-align:right;"|3.4 |style="text-align:right;"|0.0 |∨ |Hakodate |
| {{STN|Nanaehama|x}}
|{{lang|ja|七重浜}} |style="text-align:right;"|2.7 |style="text-align:right;"|2.7 | |◇ |rowspan="7"|Hokuto |
| {{STN|Higashi-Kunebetsu|x}}
|{{lang|ja|東久根別}} |style="text-align:right;"|2.6 |style="text-align:right;"|5.3 | |｜ |
| {{STN|Kunebetsu|x}}
|{{lang|ja|久根別}} |style="text-align:right;"|1.2 |style="text-align:right;"|6.5 | |◇ |
| {{STN|Kiyokawaguchi|x}}
|{{lang|ja|清川口}} |style="text-align:right;"|1.1 |style="text-align:right;"|7.6 | |｜ |
| {{STN|Kamiiso|x}}
|{{lang|ja|上磯}} |style="text-align:right;"|1.2 |style="text-align:right;"|8.8 | |◇ |
| {{STN|Moheji|x}}
|{{lang|ja|茂辺地}} |style="text-align:right;"|8.8 |style="text-align:right;"|17.6 | |◇ |
| {{STN|Oshima-Tōbetsu|x}}
|{{lang|ja|渡島当別}} |style="text-align:right;"|5.0 |style="text-align:right;"|22.6 | |◇ |
| {{STN|Kamaya|x}}
|{{lang|ja|釜谷}} |style="text-align:right;"|4.9 |style="text-align:right;"|27.5 | |◇ |rowspan=4 style="white-space:nowrap;"|Kikonai |
| {{STN|Izumisawa|x}}
|{{lang|ja|泉沢}} |style="text-align:right;"|3.1 |style="text-align:right;"|30.6 | |◇ |
| {{STN|Satsukari|x}}
|{{lang|ja|札苅}} |style="text-align:right;"|3.4 |style="text-align:right;"|34.0 | |◇ |
| {{STN|Kikonai|x}}
|{{lang|ja|木古内}} |style="text-align:right;"|3.8 |style="text-align:right;"|37.8 |◇ |
=Former Kikonai – Esashi section (closed May 2014)=
| class="wikitable" rules="all" |
| Station
!Japanese !style="width:2.5em;"|Between (km) !style="width:3.2em;"|Distance (km) !Transfers !style="width:1em;"|Track !Location |
|---|
| {{STN|Oshima-Tsuruoka|x}}
|{{lang|ja|渡島鶴岡}} |style="text-align:right;"|2.3 |style="text-align:right;"|40.1 | |｜ |rowspan=2|Kikonai |
| {{STN|Yoshibori|x}}
|{{lang|ja|吉堀}} |style="text-align:right;"|3.1 |style="text-align:right;"|43.2 | |｜ |
| {{STN|Shinmei|x|Hokkaido}}
|{{lang|ja|神明}} |style="text-align:right;"|13.2 |style="text-align:right;"|56.4 | |｜ |rowspan="6"|Kaminokuni |
| {{STN|Yunotai|x}}
|{{lang|ja|湯ノ岱}} |style="text-align:right;"|2.8 |style="text-align:right;"|59.2 | |◇ |
| {{STN|Miyakoshi|x}}
|{{lang|ja|宮越}} |style="text-align:right;"|7.1 |style="text-align:right;"|66.3 | |｜ |
| {{STN|Katsuraoka|x}}
|{{lang|ja|桂岡}} |style="text-align:right;"|2.2 |style="text-align:right;"|68.5 | |｜ |
| {{STN|Naka-Suda|x}}
|{{lang|ja|中須田}} |style="text-align:right;"|2.1 |style="text-align:right;"|70.6 | |｜ |
| {{STN|Kaminokuni|x}}
|{{lang|ja|上ノ国}} |style="text-align:right;"|3.2 |style="text-align:right;"|73.8 | |｜ |
| {{STN|Esashi|x}}
|{{lang|ja|江差}} |style="text-align:right;"|6.1 |style="text-align:right;"|79.9 | |｜ |
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 {{convert|42|km|abbr=on}} non-electrified section of the line between Kikonai and Esashi in spring 2014 due to a lack of financial viability.{{cite web|url= http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/economic/394476.html|script-title= 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|trans-title= JR Hokkaido to close line between Kikonai and Esashi – bus substitution from spring 2014|date= 8 August 2012|work= Doshin Web|publisher= The Hokkaido Shimbun Press|location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120809070716/http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/economic/394476.html|archive-date= 9 August 2012|access-date= 8 August 2012|url-status= dead}} 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.{{cite web |url= 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/|script-title=ja:江差線の木古内～江差間、廃止へ|trans-title=Esashi Line Kikonai to Esashi section to close|date= 7 September 2012|work= Tetsudo.com|publisher= Asahi Interactive Inc.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 7 September 2012}} The Kikonai – Esashi section was closed in 2014, with the last services operating on 11 May.{{cite web |url= http://railf.jp/news/2014/05/12/150000.html|script-title=ja:江差線木古内—江差間が廃止される|trans-title=Esashi Line section between Kikonai and Esashi closes|date= 12 May 2014|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 12 May 2014}}
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.
=Former connecting lines=
File:NihonCement Kamiiso 1.JPG
- Kamiiso station: A 500 m spur line served the Japan Cement Co factory from 1915 to 1989. A private {{convert|6.6|km|abbr=on}} line transported limestone to the factory from 1921 to 1956, being electrified at 600 V DC from 1922. A second {{convert|3.4|km|abbr=on}} line to a limestone quarry operated from 1949 until replaced by a conveyor belt in 1973.
- Kikonai station: In 1937, the {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} section to Shiriuchi opened, the beginning of a {{convert|75|km|abbr=on}} line to serve a proposed manganese mine at Oshima. The line reached Matsumae ({{convert|51|km|disp=or|abbr=on}}) in 1953, and closed in 1988. The last {{convert|24|km|abbr=on}} to the manganese deposit was not constructed.
References
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Hokkaidō transit}}
Category:Lines of Hokkaido Railway Company
Category:Rail transport in Hokkaido
Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan
Category:Railway lines opened in 1913
Category:Railway lines closed in 2016