Nishikigawa Seiryū Line


The Nishikigawa Seiryū Line is a Japanese railway line connecting Kawanishi and Nishikichō stations, all within Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. As the name suggests, the line parallels the Nishiki River. This is the only railway line operated by Nishikigawa Railway, a third-sector railway company which took over a former West Japan Railway Company line in 1987. The line was proposed to be extended to Nichihara via JR's Yamaguchi Line, but this was not completed. The company also operates bus lines and a travel agency.
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Basic data

  • Distance:
  • Gauge:
  • Stations: 13
  • Track: single
  • Electric supply: not electrified
  • Railway signalling:
  • *Kawanishi — Kita-Gōchi: Automatic
  • *Kita-Gōchi — Nishikichō: Simplified automatic

Services

All services on the line are Local trains, stopping at every station.
All trains operate a through service to/from on JR West Gantoku Line.
, there are 10 round trips per day between Iwakuni and Nishikichō. Trains generally operate around every 1½ hours, although in the middle of the day there is a gap of over 3 hours in services towards Nishikichō and over 2½ hours towards Iwakuni. Running time is 64-70 minutes.

Stations

All stations are in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi.

Rolling stock

Nishikigawa Railway NT3000 series diesel railcar:ja:錦川鉄道NT3000形気動車|: 4 cars, manufactured in 2007-2008 by Niigata Transys.

History

The Gannichi Line opened to Kawayama on 1 November 1960, operated by Japanese National Railways, and was extended to Nishikichō in 1963. Construction of the proposed extension to Nichihara on the Yamaguchi Line commenced in 1967, and about 50% of the roadbed had been completed when construction was abandoned in 1980.
The Nishikigawa Railway was established on 1 April 1987, renaming and taking over operations of the line from 25 July of the same year.
Seiryu Miharashi Station was opened on March 19, 2019. It is a temporary station:ja:臨時駅| only served by special trains, built as a viewing platform with scenic views facing the Nishiki River. There is no road or pedestrian access to the station.