Mugi Line

{{short description|Railway line in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan}}

{{Infobox rail line

| box_width =

| name = Mugi Line

| color = 00b5ad

| logo =

| logo_width =

| logo_alt =

| image = Uchiwara-town_mugi-line_apr%2C2022.jpg

| image_width = 300px

| image_alt =

| caption = Local train servicing Mugi Line

| type = Heavy rail

| system =

| status = In operation

| locale = Tokushima Prefecture

| start = {{STN|Tokushima|x}}

| end = {{STN|Awa-Kainan|x}}

| stations = 29

| routes =

| daily_ridership =

| open = 1913

| close =

| owner = JR Shikoku

| operator = JR Shikoku

| character = Relatively rural

| depot =

| stock = KiHa 185 series DMU
KiHa 40 series DMU
JR Shikoku 1000 series DMU
JR Shikoku 1200 series DMU
JR Shikoku 1500 series DMU

| linelength = {{convert|77.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| tracklength =

| tracks = Entire line single tracked

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm}}

| old_gauge =

| minradius =

| racksystem =

| routenumber =

| electrification = None

| speed = 110 km/h (68 mph)

| elevation =

| website =

| map = 300px

| map_state = collapsed

}}

The {{nihongo|Mugi Line|牟岐線|Mugi-sen}} is a railway line in southeastern Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku). It connects the prefectural capital of Tokushima with the town of Kaiyō in Kaifu District. The line's official nickname is {{nihongo|"Awa-Muroto Seaside Line"|阿波室戸シーサイドライン|Awa-muroto-shiisaido-rain}}, but this is rarely used by local residents as it does not directly service Muroto, the intended destination of the line.

History

The Awa Steamship Company, which operated a service between Honshu and Shikoku, first built an 11 km line from a port at Komatsushima to Tokushima which opened in 1913.{{Cite web |title=国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション |url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2952309/5 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=dl.ndl.go.jp}} In 1916, the line was extended by 10 km from Nakata to Furusho, resulting in the creation of the 2 km Komatsushima to Nakata branch line. The lines were nationalised the following year.{{Cite web |title=国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション |url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2953429/13 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=dl.ndl.go.jp}}{{Cite web |title=国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション |url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2959324/4 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=dl.ndl.go.jp}} In 1936, the line was extended south from Hanoura 17 km to Kumano, and the 2 km Hanoura to Furusho section became a freight-only branch, which closed in 1961.{{Cite web |title=国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション |url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2959243/3 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=dl.ndl.go.jp}} The line was extended a further 35 km to Mugi in three stages opening between 1937 and 1942.{{Cite web |title=牟岐線開通と山田隆二翁 |url=https://library.bunmori.tokushima.jp/digital/webkiyou/41/4119.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240318012550/https://library.bunmori.tokushima.jp/digital/webkiyou/41/4119.html |archive-date=2024-03-18 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=library.bunmori.tokushima.jp}}

In 1959, it was decided to extend the line to Muroto, where it would connect with the planned extension of the Asa line from Kochi. The first 12 km section to Kaifu opened in 1973, and further construction undertaken until work was suspended in 1980.{{Cite web |title=牟岐線開通と山田隆二翁 |url=https://library.bunmori.tokushima.jp/digital/webkiyou/41/4119.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240318012550/https://library.bunmori.tokushima.jp/digital/webkiyou/41/4119.html |archive-date=2024-03-18 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=library.bunmori.tokushima.jp}} The Chūden to Komatsushima branch closed in 1985.{{Cite web |last=NHK |title=小松島線｜地域｜NHKアーカイブス |url=https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/movies/?id=D0004170014_00000 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=小松島線｜地域｜NHKアーカイブス |language=ja}}

In 1987, with the privatization of JNR, the line became part of the Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku).{{Cite web |last=NHK |title=国鉄分割民営化 JR発足｜ニュース｜NHKアーカイブス |url=https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/movies/?id=D0009030214_00000 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=国鉄分割民営化 JR発足｜ニュース｜NHKアーカイブス |language=ja}}

In 1988 construction work south of Kaifu was recommenced by a private company underwritten by the Tokushima Prefectural Government, and the next section opened in 1992 as the Asa Kaigan Railway Asato Line.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-23 |title=阿佐海岸鉄道さよならディーゼル車両【とくしま写真日記～故郷を撮り残す】｜文化・芸能｜PICKUPニュース｜徳島新聞 |url=https://www.topics.or.jp/articles/amp/450858 |access-date=2025-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123025422/https://www.topics.or.jp/articles/amp/450858 |archive-date=23 November 2020 }}

Services

Although there are local trains that run the entire length of the Mugi Line, most services are divided at {{STN|Mugi|x}}. There are trains that serve the Tokushima – Mugi, Tokushima – Awa-Kainan, and Mugi – Awa-Kainan sections, as well as a single round-trip between Tokushima and Anan. Some local trains have through service onto the Kōtoku, Tokushima, and Naruto lines. Driver-only operation is in effect for most daytime trains when there are few passengers.Also see timetables for corresponding stations

Over the New Year's holiday, the seasonal Yakuōji-gō limited express provides service to/from {{STN|Takamatsu|x|Kagawa}}.

Between 1962 and 2025, the Mugi Line was serviced by the Muroto, a limited express service which ran between Tokushima Mugi, continuing into Awa-Kainan as a local service, operating one round trip per day. It was discontinued in March 2025.{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-03-14 |title=JR四国特急「むろと」運行最終日で鉄道ファンら別れ惜しむ |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/tokushima/20250314/8020022613.html |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=NHK |language=ja}}

Until 2019, the Home Express Anan ran between Tokushima and Anan along the Mugi Line, a service which began in 2006.{{cite news |date=2019-03-15 |title=ＪＲ最短区間の特急がラストラン追加料金は３２０円 |url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM3H52WTM3HPUTB00D.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316101747/https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM3H52WTM3HPUTB00D.html |archive-date=2019-03-16 |accessdate=2019-07-18 |newspaper=The Asahi Shimbun |language=Japanese}} Likewise, prior to this time, some Muroto trains (and all Tsurugisan services) provided through service on the Tokushima and Dosan lines to/from {{STN|Awa-Ikeda|x}}.

Station list

All stations are located in Tokushima Prefecture.
Local trains stop at all stations.
Trains can pass one another at stations marked "◇" and cannot pass at those marked "｜".

class="wikitable" rules="all"
rowspan="2"\|No. ! rowspan="2"\|Picture ! rowspan="2"\|Station ! rowspan="2"\|Japanese ! colspan="2"\|Distance (km) ! rowspan="2"\|Transfers ! rowspan="2"\| ! rowspan="2"\|Location
Between stations !Total
{{JRSSN\|M\|00}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Tokushima\|x}} \|徳島 \|style="text-align:right;"\| - \|style="text-align:right;"\|0.0 \|\|Kōtoku Line (T00), Tokushima Line, Naruto Line \|◇ \|rowspan="5"\|Tokushima
{{JRSSN\|M\|01}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Awa-Tomida\|x}} \|阿波富田 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.4 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.4 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|02}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Niken'ya\|x}} \|二軒屋 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.4 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.8 \| \|◇
{{JRSSN\|M\|03}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Bunkanomori\|x}} \|文化の森 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.1 \|style="text-align:right;"\|3.9 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|04}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Jizōbashi\|x}} \|地蔵橋 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.1 \|style="text-align:right;"\|6.0 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|05}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Chūden\|x}} \|中田 \|style="text-align:right;"\|3.2 \|style="text-align:right;"\|9.2 \| \|◇ \|rowspan="4"\|Komatsushima
{{JRSSN\|M\|06}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Minami-Komatsushima\|x}} \|南小松島 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.7 \|style="text-align:right;"\|10.9 \| \|◇
{{JRSSN\|M\|07}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Awa-Akaishi\|x}} \|阿波赤石 \|style="text-align:right;"\|3.3 \|style="text-align:right;"\|14.2 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|08}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Tatsue\|x}} \|立江 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.4 \|style="text-align:right;"\|15.6 \| \|◇
{{JRSSN\|M\|09}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Hanoura\|x}} \|羽ノ浦 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.1 \|style="text-align:right;"\|17.7 \| \|◇ \|rowspan="9"\|Anan
{{JRSSN\|M\|10}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Nishibara\|x}} \|西原 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.1 \|style="text-align:right;"\|19.8 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|11}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Awa-Nakashima\|x}} \|阿波中島 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.0 \|style="text-align:right;"\|21.8 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|12}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Anan\|x}} \|阿南 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.7 \|style="text-align:right;"\|24.5 \| \|◇
{{JRSSN\|M\|13}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Minobayashi\|x}} \|見能林 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.9 \|style="text-align:right;"\|26.4 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|14}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Awa-Tachibana\|x}} \|阿波橘 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.2 \|style="text-align:right;"\|28.6 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|15}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Kuwano\|x}} \|桑野 \|style="text-align:right;"\|4.0 \|style="text-align:right;"\|32.6 \| \|◇
{{JRSSN\|M\|16}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Aratano\|x}} \|新野 \|style="text-align:right;"\|3.6 \|style="text-align:right;"\|36.2 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|17}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Awa-Fukui\|x}} \|阿波福井 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.7 \|style="text-align:right;"\|38.9 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|18}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Yuki\|x\|Tokushima}} \|由岐 \|style="text-align:right;"\|6.0 \|style="text-align:right;"\|44.9 \| \|◇ \|rowspan="6"\|Minami, Kaifu District
{{JRSSN\|M\|18-1}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Tainohama\|x}} \|田井ノ浜 \|style="text-align:right;"\| - \|style="text-align:right;"\| 45.7 \|Seasonal station \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|19}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Kiki\|x}} \|木岐 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.3 \|style="text-align:right;"\|47.2 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|20}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Kitagawachi\|x}} \|北河内 \|style="text-align:right;"\|4.3 \|style="text-align:right;"\|51.5 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|21}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Hiwasa\|x}} \|日和佐 \|style="text-align:right;"\|1.8 \|style="text-align:right;"\|53.3 \| \|◇
{{JRSSN\|M\|22}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Yamagawachi\|x}} \|山河内 \|style="text-align:right;"\|5.1 \|style="text-align:right;"\|58.4 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|23}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Hegawa\|x}} \|辺川 \|style="text-align:right;"\|5.9 \|style="text-align:right;"\|64.3 \| \|｜ \|rowspan="2"\|Mugi, Kaifu District
{{JRSSN\|M\|24}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Mugi\|x}} \|牟岐 \|style="text-align:right;"\|3.4 \|style="text-align:right;"\|67.7 \| \|◇
{{JRSSN\|M\|25}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Sabase\|x}} \|鯖瀬 \|style="text-align:right;"\|4.3 \|style="text-align:right;"\|72.0 \| \|｜ \|rowspan="4"\|Kaiyō, Kaifu District
{{JRSSN\|M\|26}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Asakawa\|x}} \|浅川 \|style="text-align:right;"\|3.4 \|style="text-align:right;"\|75.4 \| \|｜
{{JRSSN\|M\|27}} \|100px \|{{STN\|Awa-Kainan\|x}} \|阿波海南 \|style="text-align:right;"\|2.4 \|style="text-align:right;"\|77.8 \|Asa Coast Railway Asatō Line (AS27) \|｜

class="wikitable" rules="all"

rowspan="2"|No.

! rowspan="2"|Picture

! rowspan="2"|Station

! rowspan="2"|Japanese

! colspan="2"|Distance (km)

! rowspan="2"|Transfers

! rowspan="2"|

! rowspan="2"|Location

Between
stations

!Total

Mugi Line

History

Services

Station list

See also

References

External links