Etsumi-Hoku Line

The Etsumi-Hoku Line (越美北線), also called the Kuzuryū Line (九頭竜線), is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The line extends 52.5 km (32.6 mi) from Echizen-Hanandō Station in Fukui to Kuzuryūko Station in Ōno with a total of 22 stations.

The line was originally planned to connect to what is now the Nagaragawa Railway (previously Etsumi-Nan Line), but the last 24.0 km (14.9 mi) section that would have involved extensive tunneling was never commenced. A bus service provided a connection between the two lines until it ceased in 2002.

Route data

 * Operating Company:
 * West Japan Railway Company (Services and tracks)
 * Distance:
 * Echizen-Hanandō &mdash; Kuzuryūko: 52.5 km / 32.6 mi.
 * Gauge:
 * Stations: 22
 * Double-tracking: None
 * Electrification: Not electrified
 * Railway signalling:
 * Echizen-Hanandō &mdash; Echizen-Ōno: Simplified automatic
 * Echizen-Ōno &mdash; Kuzuryūko Station: Staff token

Stations

 * All trains stop at all stations.
 * Between Echizen-Hanandō and Fukui trains run on the Hapi-Line Fukui Line (formerly Hokuriku Main Line).
 * All stations located in Fukui Prefecture.

Legend
 * ◇ - stations with passing loops
 * ∥ - double-tracked section
 * ｜- single-tracked section
 * Y - junction station

History

 * December 15, 1960: Minami-Fukui &mdash; Echizen-Hanandō &mdash; Kadohara section (43.1 km) opens. Freight operations begin between Minami-Fukui &mdash; Echizen-Ōno.
 * Echizen-Hanandō, Rokujō, Echizen-Tōgō, Ichijōdani, Ichinami, Kowashōzu, Miyama, Echizen-Yakushi, Echizen-Ōmiya, Hakariishi, Ushigahara, Echizen-Ōno, Echizen-Tomida, Shimo-Yuino, Kakigashima, Kadohara stations open.
 * May 20, 1964: Asuwa, Echizen-Takada, Echizen-Tano stations open.
 * October 15, 1965: Freight operations begin between Echizen-Ōno &mdash; Kadohara.
 * March 25, 1968: Kita-Ōno Station opens.
 * October 1, 1968: Freight operations end at Kadohara Station.
 * December 15, 1972: Extension from Kadohara to Kuzuryūko (10.2 km) opens, including the 5251m Arashima tunnel.
 * April 1, 1973: Freight operations end between Echizen-Ōno &mdash; Echizen-Tomida
 * October 1980: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" begins operation.
 * November 15, 1982: Freight operations end between Minami-Fukui &mdash; Echizen-Ōno, ending freight service on the entire line.
 * April 1, 1987: With the breakup and privatization of Japan National Railways, line becomes part of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Beginning of line moved 800 meters to Echizen-Hanandō Station.
 * June 1, 1990: Driver-only operation begins.
 * September 1, 1992: Regular rapid service begins.
 * September 12, 1995: "Kuzuryū Line" name goes into use.
 * September 1, 1997: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" ceases operation.
 * March 3, 2001: Regular rapid service ends.
 * July 18, 2004: Due to heavy rains, five railway bridges are washed away, forcing operations to stop.
 * July 20, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Ōno &mdash; Kuzuryūko.
 * September 11, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Hanandō &mdash; Ichijōdani, Miyama &mdash; Echizen-Ōno.
 * June 30, 2007: Service restored between Ichijōdani &mdash; Miyama, allowing full service on the line to resume.