Ibara Line

The Ibara Line (井原線) is a Japanese railway line between Sōja Station, Sōja and Kannabe Station, Fukuyama. It is the only railway line operated by the Ibara Railway (井原鉄道).

History
Japanese National Railways started the construction of the line in 1966, but financial constraints halted work in 1980. The Ibara Railway Co. was established in 1986 and construction resumed under the newly founded third sector company, and the line opened on January 11, 1999, dual track and electrified as far as Kiyone.

Basic data

 * Operators, distances: Sōja &mdash; Kannabe; 41.7 km / 25.9 mi.
 * Ibara Railway (Category-1)
 * Kiyone &mdash; Kannabe: 38.3 km / 23.8 mi.
 * Ibara Railway (Category-2), West Japan Railway Company (Category-1), Japan Freight Railway Company (Category-2)
 * Sōja &mdash; Kiyone: 3.4 km / 2.1 mi. (Shared with Hakubi Line.)
 * Gauge: 1,067 mm / 3 ft. 6 in.
 * Stations: 15
 * Double-track line: Sōja &mdash; Kiyone
 * Electric supply: Sōja &mdash; Kiyone (1500 V DC)
 * All the Ibara Railway trains are DMUs.
 * Railway signalling
 * Kiyone &mdash; Kannabe: Simplified automatic
 * Sōja &mdash; Kiyone: Automatic