Tosa Kuroshio Railway Asa Line
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Tosa Kuroshio Railway Asa Line
| other_name = Gomen-Nahari Line
| native_name = 土佐くろしお鉄道阿佐線
| native_name_lang = ja
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = File:TK 9640-9.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = A 9640 series car on the Asa Line, May 2010
| type = Regional rail
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = Kōchi Prefecture
| start = {{STN|Gomen|x}}
| end = {{STN|Nahari|x}}
| stations = 20
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1 July 2002
| close =
| owner = Tosa Kuroshio Railway
| operator = Tosa Kuroshio Railway
| character = Rural
| depot =
| stock = 9640 series DMU
| linelength = {{Convert|42.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = Entire line single tracked
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| electrification = None
| speed = 110 km/h (68 mph)
| elevation =
| minradius =
| map =
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The {{nihongo|Tosa Kuroshio Railway Asa Line|土佐くろしお鉄道阿佐線|Tosa Kuroshio Railway Asa-sen}} is a 42.7 km Japanese railway line operated by the third-sector railway operator Tosa Kuroshio Railway. It connects Gomen Station in the city of Nankoku with Nahari Station in the city of Nahari in Kōchi Prefecture. The line is also commonly known as the {{nihongo|Gomen-Nahari Line|ごめん・なはり線}}.{{cite book |last = Terada |first = Hirokazu |script-title=ja: データブック日本の私鉄 |trans-title=Databook: Japan's Private Railways |publisher = Neko Publishing |date = 19 January 2013 |location = Japan |language = Japanese |page = 173|isbn = 978-4-7770-1336-4}}
Service outline
Limited-stop "Rapid" services and some all-stations "Local" services inter-run over the JR Shikoku Dosan Line to and from Kochi Station. Trains are formed of single or two-car diesel multiple units.
Stations
| class="wikitable" |
| No.
! Name ! Japanese ! Distance (km) ! Rapid ! Transfers ! colspan="2"|Location |
|---|
| GN40
|{{STN|Gomen|x}} |後免 |style="text-align: right;"|0.0 |style="text-align: center;"|● |rowspan="3"|Nankoku |rowspan="21"|Kōchi Prefecture |
| GN39
|{{STN|Gomenmachi|x}} |後免町 |style="text-align: right;"|1.1 |style="text-align: center;"|● |
| GN38
|{{STN|Tateda|x}} |立田 |style="text-align: right;"|2.9 |style="text-align: center;"|｜ | |
| GN37
|{{STN|Noichi|x}} |のいち |style="text-align: right;"|5.7 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |rowspan="5"|Kōnan |
| GN36
|{{STN|Yoshikawa|x|Kochi}} |よしかわ |style="text-align: right;"|8.0 |style="text-align: center;"|｜ | |
| GN35
|{{STN|Akaoka|x}} |あかおか |style="text-align: right;"|9.3 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN34
|{{STN|Kagami|x}} |香我美 |style="text-align: right;"|10.7 |style="text-align: center;"|｜ | |
| GN33
|{{STN|Yasu|x|Kochi}} |夜須 |style="text-align: right;"|12.4 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN32
|{{STN|Nishibun|x}} |西分 |style="text-align: right;"|16.4 |style="text-align: center;"|▽ | |rowspan="2"|Geisei |
| GN31
|{{STN|Wajiki|x}} |和食 |style="text-align: right;"|18.2 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN30
|{{STN|Akano|x}} |赤野 |style="text-align: right;"|19.6 |style="text-align: center;"|▽ | |rowspan="6"|Aki |
| GN29
|{{STN|Ananai|x}} |穴内 |style="text-align: right;"|23.6 |style="text-align: center;"|▽ | |
| GN28
|{{STN|Kyūjōmae|x|Kochi}} |球場前 |style="text-align: right;"|26.2 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN27-1
|{{STN|Aki General Hospital|x}} |あき総合病院前 |style="text-align: right;"|26.8 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN27
|{{STN|Aki|x}} |安芸 |style="text-align: right;"|27.7 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN26
|{{STN|Ioki|x}} |伊尾木 |style="text-align: right;"|30.4 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN25
|{{STN|Shimoyama|x|Kochi}} |下山 |style="text-align: right;"|34.7 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN24
|{{STN|Tōnohama|x}} |唐浜 |style="text-align: right;"|37.0 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |rowspan="2"|Yasuda |
| GN23
|{{STN|Yasuda|x|Kochi}} |安田 |style="text-align: right;"|38.7 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
| GN22
|{{STN|Tano|x|Kochi}} |田野 |style="text-align: right;"|41.5 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |Tano |
| GN21
|{{STN|Nahari|x}} |奈半利 |style="text-align: right;"|42.7 |style="text-align: center;"|● | |
Rolling stock
A fleet of 11 9640 series ("9640" can be read as "Kuroshio" in Japanese) stainless steel-bodied diesel multiple unit cars are used on the line, including two cars, 9640-1S and 9640-2S with rounded front ends in a whale motif and an open observation balcony on one side.{{cite book |script-title=ja: 全国私鉄超決定版 電車・機関車・気動車1700 |trans-title=Nationwide Private Railway Ultimate Edition: 1700 EMUs, Locomotives, and DMUs |last= Takai |first= Kunpei|editor1-last= Morokawa|editor1-first= Hisashi|editor2-last= Hattori|editor2-first= Akihiro|publisher = Sekaibunka-sha |date = 30 June 2014 |location = Tokyo, Japan |language = Japanese |page = 263|isbn = 978-4-418-14219-4}}
File:TK 9640-6.jpg|9640 series car 9640-6
File:TK 9640-1.jpg|9640 series car 9640-1S
File:ごめん・なはり線9640形.jpg|9640 series car 9640-2S
History
The Tosa Kuroshio Tetsudo was established on 8 May 1986 for the purpose of resuming construction of the Sukumo and Asa lines, which had been planned by Japanese National Railways but abandoned.{{cite book |last = Terada |first = Hirokazu |script-title=ja: データブック日本の私鉄 |trans-title=Databook: Japan's Private Railways |publisher = Neko Publishing |date = 19 January 2013 |location = Japan |language = Japanese |page = 173|isbn = 978-4-7770-1336-4}} The company acquired a license to operate the Asa Line in January 1988, and commenced construction of the line, which opened on 1 July 2002.