Echizen Railway
Encyclopedia
is a railway company
located in Fukui
, Fukui Prefecture
, Japan
. It owns and operates the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line
between Fukui and Katsuyama
and the Mikuni Awara Line
between Fukui and Sakai
.
) and Katsuyama
stations on the Eiheiji Main Line (now the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line) as well as all service on the Eiheiji Line and replace them with buses. However, for several years this was fought by local municipalities; in 1997, the city of Fukui and other municipalities along the railway lines announced they would establish a committee to provide support to the company to continue operating the lines.
However, two accidents in a six-month span on the Eiheiji Main Line (one on December 17, 2000 between and Higashi-Furuichi stations and another on June 24, 2001 between and stations) forced the company to halt all services. The resulting effect on revenue led to the company's decision to withdraw from the railway business, and in October 2001 it officially notified the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
As the Eiheiji Main Line and Mikuni Awara Line
were considered to be a crucial means of transport, Fukui Prefecture decided to set up a third-sector company to continue operating railway services and established Echizen Railway in 2002. On February 1, 2003, Keifuku formally transferred all tracks and equipment to Echizen Railway, and the Echizen Main Line was renamed the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line. However, the Eiheiji Line was permanently abolished (as revenue was forecast to fall below the amount needed to break even) and bus service was run in its place.
Partial service on both lines resumed on July 19, 2003, with full service resuming on the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line on August 10 and on the Mikuni Awara Line on October 19. Official service In order to gather information on passenger demographics, all ticket machines were abolished and ticket sales were handled by station employees.
Through service with Fukui Railway
On May 27, 2010, Fukui Prefecture
announced plans for through services between Fukui Railway
and Echizen Railway. Under the plan, beginning in 2013 the Fukui Railway's Fukubu Line would connect to the Echizen Railway at Tawaramachi Station
, and as many as two trains per hour in each direction would run through to Nittazuka Station
. The next stage would involve extending Fukui Railway service to Nishi-Nagata Station
and running Echizen Railway trains onto the Fukubu Line. As a part of this plan, five stations would be renovated.
One issue regarding through service is that Echizen Railway train cars are 2.8 meters wide, wider than cars used by Fukui Railway. As a result, Echizen Railway trains on Fukubu Line double-tracked sections do not have the necessary 40 centimeter clearance, requiring Echizen Railway to acquire a new, 3-car set for through service use.
The cost of the project is estimated at several billion yen, and funding sources have not been specified. As it is unclear whether usage will increase from through running, participants in the prefecture's study group worry that costs will outpace any increase in revenue.
Electric locomotives
Railway company
A railway company or railroad company is an entity that operates a railroad track and/or trains. Such a company can either be private or public...
located in Fukui
Fukui, Fukui
is the capital of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The city is located in the north-central part of the prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan.-Demographics:...
, Fukui Prefecture
Fukui Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It owns and operates the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line
Katsuyama Eiheiji Line
The is a railway line operated by Echizen Railway in Fukui Prefecture. The line stretches 27.8 km from the city of Fukui to Katsuyama with a total of 23 stations. It was operated by Keifuku Electric Railway until 2001; Echizen Railway took over the line in 2003....
between Fukui and Katsuyama
Katsuyama, Fukui
is a city located in Fukui, Japan.As of October 1, 2005, the city has an estimated population of 26,961 and the density of 106.28 persons per km²...
and the Mikuni Awara Line
Mikuni Awara Line
The is a railway line operated by Echizen Railway in Fukui Prefecture. The line stretches 27.8 km from the city of Fukui to Sakai with a total of 22 stations. It was operated by Keifuku Electric Railway until 2001; Echizen Railway took over the line in 2003....
between Fukui and Sakai
Sakai, Fukui
is a city located in Fukui, Japan. It lies to the north of Fukui City. It was founded on March 20, 2006, by the merger of the towns of Harue, Maruoka, Mikuni, and Sakai of the former Sakai District, which was dissolved in this merger....
.
History
In 1992, Keifuku Electric Railway, the predecessor of Echizen Railway, announced that it would end services between Higashi-Furuichi (now EiheijiguchiEiheijiguchi Station
is an Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line railway station located in Eiheiji, Yoshida District, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Station:All Katsuyama Eiheiji Line trains serve Eiheijiguchi Station. Three tracks serve two platforms, and the station is staffed. The station building is the original...
) and Katsuyama
Katsuyama Station
is an Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line railway station located in Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Station:All Katsuyama Eiheiji Line trains serve Katsuyama Station. Three tracks serve two platforms, and the station is staffed...
stations on the Eiheiji Main Line (now the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line) as well as all service on the Eiheiji Line and replace them with buses. However, for several years this was fought by local municipalities; in 1997, the city of Fukui and other municipalities along the railway lines announced they would establish a committee to provide support to the company to continue operating the lines.
However, two accidents in a six-month span on the Eiheiji Main Line (one on December 17, 2000 between and Higashi-Furuichi stations and another on June 24, 2001 between and stations) forced the company to halt all services. The resulting effect on revenue led to the company's decision to withdraw from the railway business, and in October 2001 it officially notified the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
As the Eiheiji Main Line and Mikuni Awara Line
Mikuni Awara Line
The is a railway line operated by Echizen Railway in Fukui Prefecture. The line stretches 27.8 km from the city of Fukui to Sakai with a total of 22 stations. It was operated by Keifuku Electric Railway until 2001; Echizen Railway took over the line in 2003....
were considered to be a crucial means of transport, Fukui Prefecture decided to set up a third-sector company to continue operating railway services and established Echizen Railway in 2002. On February 1, 2003, Keifuku formally transferred all tracks and equipment to Echizen Railway, and the Echizen Main Line was renamed the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line. However, the Eiheiji Line was permanently abolished (as revenue was forecast to fall below the amount needed to break even) and bus service was run in its place.
Partial service on both lines resumed on July 19, 2003, with full service resuming on the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line on August 10 and on the Mikuni Awara Line on October 19. Official service In order to gather information on passenger demographics, all ticket machines were abolished and ticket sales were handled by station employees.
Through service with Fukui RailwayFukui Railwayis a bus and railway company located in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It owns and operates the Fukubu Line between Tawaramachi Station in Fukui and Echizen-Takefu Station in Echizen.-Overview:...
On May 27, 2010, Fukui PrefectureFukui Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed...
announced plans for through services between Fukui Railway
Fukui Railway
is a bus and railway company located in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It owns and operates the Fukubu Line between Tawaramachi Station in Fukui and Echizen-Takefu Station in Echizen.-Overview:...
and Echizen Railway. Under the plan, beginning in 2013 the Fukui Railway's Fukubu Line would connect to the Echizen Railway at Tawaramachi Station
Tawaramachi Station (Fukui)
is a railway station on the Fukui Railway Fukubu and Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara lines located in Fukui, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Fukui Railway:All Fukubu Line trains serve Tawaramachi station. There is a single platform; all trains on the line terminate here. The station is unstaffed.-Echizen...
, and as many as two trains per hour in each direction would run through to Nittazuka Station
Nittazuka Station
is an Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line railway station located in Fukui, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Station:All Mikuni Awara Line trains serve Nittazuka Station. There are two tracks serving a single platform. The station is staffed at all times, except for early mornings and late nights...
. The next stage would involve extending Fukui Railway service to Nishi-Nagata Station
Nishi-Nagata Station
is an Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line railway station located in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.-Station:All Mikuni Awara Line trains serve Nishi-Nagata Station. There are three tracks with one island and one side platform. The station is staffed except during early mornings and late nights on...
and running Echizen Railway trains onto the Fukubu Line. As a part of this plan, five stations would be renovated.
One issue regarding through service is that Echizen Railway train cars are 2.8 meters wide, wider than cars used by Fukui Railway. As a result, Echizen Railway trains on Fukubu Line double-tracked sections do not have the necessary 40 centimeter clearance, requiring Echizen Railway to acquire a new, 3-car set for through service use.
The cost of the project is estimated at several billion yen, and funding sources have not been specified. As it is unclear whether usage will increase from through running, participants in the prefecture's study group worry that costs will outpace any increase in revenue.
Current rolling stock
EMUs- MC1101 series: 1 car
- MC2101 series: 8 cars
- MC2201 series: 1 car
- MC5001 series: 1 car
- MC6001 series: 2 cars
- MC6101 series: 12 cars
Electric locomotives
- ML6 series: one unit
- ML521 series: two units
External links
- Echizen Railway (official)