Minamiaso Railway Takamori Line


The Takamori Line is a Japanese railway line in Kumamoto Prefecture, connecting Tateno Station in Minamiaso and Takamori Station in Takamori. It is the only railway line operated by third-sector railway company Minamiaso Railway. The line traverses the southern part of Mount Aso caldera.

Stations

All stations are within Kumamoto Prefecture.
† The station name of Aso-Shimodajō has changed three times:
With 22 kana, Minamiaso Mizu-no-Umareru-Sato Hakusui-Kōgen Station was tied with Chōjagahamashiosaihamanasukōenmae Station in Ibaraki Prefecture as the longest station name in Japan; however, since 2020, the record is held by Tōjiin [Ritsumeikan University Station] in Kyoto, with 26 kana.

Earthquake closure and reopening

The entire Takamori Line was closed following significant damage to track and infrastructure following the Kumamoto earthquakes in April 2016. A section of the line between Nakamatsu and Takamori resumed service in July of the same year.
However, the section between Tateno and Nakamatsu could not be reopened because of extensive earthquake damage to the track. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism estimated that a complete restoration would cost between 6.5 and 7 billion yen. After work was completed to restore the railway, the full line re-opened on 15 July 2023. Major work to reopen the line included the complete rebuilding of the badly damaged No. 1 Shirakawa arch bridge.

History

The single-track line was opened by the Japanese Government Railways in 1928. The only passing loop is at. Freight services ceased in 1984. Minamiaso Railway took over the line from Japanese National Railways on April 1, 1986. It uses a simplified automatic railway signalling system. The line is not electrified.
The MLIT tested a DMV railbus on the line in November, 2007.

Uncompleted extension

After the Takachiho line opened in 1972, construction of the section to Takamori continued until 1975 when flooding in the Takamori tunnel resulted in work being suspended. Construction was formally abandoned in 1980.