Akō Line
Akō Line is a railway line owned by West Japan Railway Company in Japan, operating between Aioi Station in Aioi, Hyōgo and Higashi-Okayama Station in Okayama, Okayama. The Akō Line operates south of and approximately parallel to both the Sanyō Main Line and the San'yō Shinkansen, with all three lines paralleling the coastline of the Seto Inland Sea.
The entire line is single track.
Services
The line is operated in two sections:- — and
- Banshū-Akō—
, the furthest in distance that Ako Line trains operate to/from is Tsuruga, while the longest service in time is the first weekday service departing Banshū-Akō at 05:33 which operates a Rapid service to Maibara arriving at 10:13 with a running time of 4 hours, 40 minutes.
At Higashi-Okayama all trains operate a through service to/from and beyond on the Sanyo Main Line.
Stations
All trains on the line are Local services, stopping at every station. "Rapid" and "Special Rapid" trains to/from Kyoto and beyond operate as Local trains between Aioi and Banshū-Akō.History
The initial section between Aioi and Banshu-Ako opened in 1951, and the line was opened progressively, to Hinase in 1955, Inbe in 1958, and Higashi-Okayama in 1962. The Aioi - Banshu-Ako section was electrified in 1961, and the rest of the line in 1969.CTC signalling was commissioned between Higashi-Okayama and Banshu-Ako in 1983.
Former connecting lines
- Banshu-Ako Station: The Ako Railway operated a gauge line to Une on the Sanyo Main Line between 1921 and 1951.
- Nishi-Katakami Station: The Dowa Mining Co. opened a line to Yanahara, to haul iron sulphide ore, between 1923 and 1931. The line is also connected to Wake station on the Sanyo Main Line. Passenger services commenced in 1931, freight services ceased in 1988 and the line closed in 1991.