Mojikō Retro Scenic Line
| Mojikō Retro Scenic Line | |
|---|---|
_Station.JPG) The Shiokaze near Idemitsu Art Museum Station | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | 門司港レトロ観光線 |
| Owner |  Kitakyushu City |
| Locale | Moji-ku, Kitakyushu Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 4 |
| Website | www.retro-line.net |
| Service | |
| Type | Heritage railway |
| Operator(s) |  Heisei Chikuhō Railway |
| History | |
| Commenced | 26 April 2009 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 2.1 km (1.3 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | None |
| Operating speed | 15 km/h (9.3 mph) |
The Mojikō Retro Scenic Line (門司港レトロ観光線, Mojikō-Retoro-Kankō-sen) is a 2.1 km heritage railway line owned by Kitakyushu City and operated by Heisei Chikuhō Railway. The line runs on a former freight route in Moji-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. One passenger train named the Shiokaze (潮風号) runs on the track.
History
[edit]Various railroads have operated in the Moji area in the past, including a line by JR Freight to Sotohama Station (near present day Idemitsu Art Museum Station) and a private passenger line known as the "Tanoura Public Rinkai Line" (田野浦公共臨港鉄道). After the closure of these lines, multiple proposals were made to preserve these lines as a heritage railway. One such proposal by the Heisei Chikuhō Railway was finally approved on March 13, 2008 between Mojikō Station and Mekari Park (now Kanmon Straits Mekari Station).[1][2]
In preparation for its reopening, promotional events were held on the tracks throughout 2008.[3] Plans for the railroad was formally announced January 2009, and naming rights to the station were sold before its formal opening on April 26.[4][5][6] For their preservation efforts, Kitakyushu City was awarded a "Railroad Cultural and Tourism Award" by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.[7]
The 2018 Japan floods heavily damaged the tracks, forcing the line to be closed for a month.[8]
Operations
[edit]One four-car passenger train named the Shiokaze (潮風号) runs on the track. The line operates year-round (previously, only between March and November).[9] Except for certain weeks such as during the Obon period, trains only operate on weekends and holidays. Eleven round-trip services are run per day at 40-minute intervals.[10]
Though operated by the Heisei Chikuhō Railway, this line does not connect to the rest of Heichiku's network. The line is not electrified and is single-tracked for the entire line.
Stations
[edit]All stations are within Moji-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
| Name | Distance (km) | Connections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyushu Railway History Museum | 九州鉄道記念館 | 0.0 | .svg){kind=logo} JR Kyushu: Kagoshima Main Line (via Mojikō Station)
|
| Idemitsu Art Museum | 出光美術館 | 0.5 | |
| Norfolk Hiroba | ノーフォーク広場 | 1.4 | |
| Kanmonkaikyō Mekari | 関門海峡めかり | 2.1 | |
References
[edit]- ^ "『門司港レトロ観光列車』 鉄道事業の許可申請について". Moji Retro (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ "門司港レトロ観光トロッコ列車 全国初の事業申請 北九州市と平成筑豊鉄道" (in Japanese). Nishinippon Shimbun. March 13, 2008. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ "ドキドキわくわく 鉄道体験『レールパーク』の開催について". Moji Retro (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ "新路線 「やまぎんレトロライン」 門司港トロッコ「潮風号」走ります 北九州市が命名権販売". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). January 31, 2009. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- ^ "門司港レトロ観光線（やまぎんレトロライン）駅名・線名決定！". Heisei Chikuhō Railway (in Japanese). January 31, 2009. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- ^ "報道発表資料：門司港レトロ観光列車「潮風号」開業予定日の決定について". Moji Retro (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- ^ "第８回「日本鉄道賞」の受賞者の決定について". MLIT (in Japanese). October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- ^ "鉄道の運転再開及び代行バスの運行開始の見通しについて （７月２０日１７時時点）" (PDF). MLIT (in Japanese). July 20, 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ "門司港レトロ観光列車「潮風号」". 北九州銀行レトロライン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "運行日・時刻表". Mojikō Retro Scenic Line (in Japanese). Heisei Chikuhō Railway. Retrieved September 16, 2019.