Akechi Line

Akechi Line
Akechi Line
	Akechi 10 series diesel railcar 11
Overview
Native name	明知線
Status	In operation
Owner	Akechi Railway
Locale	Gifu Prefecture
Termini	Ena; Akechi;
Stations	11
Service
Operator(s)	Akechi Railway
Rolling stock	Akechi 10 series DMU
History
Opened	24 May 1933
Technical
Line length	25.1 km (15.6 mi)
Number of tracks	Entire line single tracked
Character	Rural
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Minimum radius	200 m
Electrification	None
Operating speed	60 km/h (37 mph)

The Akechi Line (明知線, Akechi-sen) is a Japanese railway line in Gifu Prefecture connecting Ena and Akechi stations, which are both located in Ena. There are stations located in Nakatsugawa city as well. This is the only railway line Akechi Railway (明知鉄道, Akechi Tetsudō) operates. The third-sector company took over the former Japanese National Railways line in 1985.

Stations

All stations are located in Gifu Prefecture.

Stations marked "▲" are stopped by the Inbound Rapid service, which runs only on weekdays).
Stations marked "●" are stopped by Express service Taishō Roman Gō (大正ロマン号), which runs on all days excluding Mondays. An express fare is not required, but advance reservations and tickets are required to ride in the seasonal Dining Car.

No.	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Rapid	Express Taishō Roman Gō	Transfers	Location
11	Ena	恵那	0.0	▲	●	Chūō Main Line	Ena
10	Higashino	東野	2.6	▲	｜		Ena
9	Iinuma	飯沼	7.6	↑	｜		Nakatsugawa
8	Agi	阿木	9.9	▲	●		Nakatsugawa
7	Iibama	飯羽間	12.7	▲	｜		Ena
6	Gokuraku	極楽	13.7	↑	●
5	Iwamura	岩村	15.0	▲	●
4	Hanashiro-onsen	花白温泉	18.3	▲	●
3	Yamaoka	山岡	19.7	▲	●
2	Noshi	野志	23.1	↑	｜
1	Akechi	明智	25.1	▲	●

History

The line opened on 24 May 1933, between Oi Station (present-day Ena Station) and Agi.^[1] It was extended to Akechi on 24 June 1934.^[1] Freight services were discontinued from 1 February 1981.^[1]

Rolling stock

Akechi 10 series railcar 12 in March 2007

As of 1 April 2016^[update], the line is operated using a fleet of five Akechi 10 series diesel railcars and one Akechi 6 series diesel railcar.^[2]

A new Akechi 100 series diesel railcar (number 101) entered service on 8 April 2017, replacing the former Akechi 6 series car.^[3]

Special services

Akechi Railway allows riders to experience local cuisine from the region throughout different times of the year by running one round-trip service per day with a dining car, featuring dishes made from ingredients such as kanten, jinenjo, and mushrooms. Sake tasting trains also operate.^[4]

The company holds monthly events where kids and adults can experience driving a diesel locomotive.^[5] Steam locomotives also operate on the line, and private trains may be chartered for special events.^[6]^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
^ 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
^ 明知鉄道アケチ100形 [Akechi Railway Akechi 100 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 674. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2017. p. 98.
^ "食堂車 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 January 2025.
^ "キッズ気動車運転士体験 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). 25 December 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
^ "SL体験 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 January 2025.
^ "貸切列車 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). 21 October 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.

External links

Official website (in Japanese)

[terada2013-1] Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.

[jrrprivate2016-2] 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.

[railfan674-3] 明知鉄道アケチ100形 [Akechi Railway Akechi 100 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 674. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2017. p. 98.

[4] "食堂車 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 January 2025.

[5] "キッズ気動車運転士体験 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). 25 December 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.

[6] "SL体験 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 January 2025.

[7] "貸切列車 | 明知鉄道株式会社公式ホームページ" (in Japanese). 21 October 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.

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