Shinbaru Station

Shinbaru Station (新原駅) is a passenger railway station located in the town of Sue, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu in

Lines
The station is served by the Kashii Line and is located 21.1 km from the starting point of the line at Saitozaki.

Station layout
The station, which is unstaffed, consists of two side platforms serving two tracks. A station building, a small hut in traditional Japanese style, houses a waiting area and automatic ticket vending machines. Access to the opposite side platform is by means of a level crossing with steps onto the platforms at both ends. A bike shed is provided at the station forecourt.

History
The private Hakata Bay Railway had opened a track on 1 January 1904 from Saitozaki to its southern terminus at Sue. On 3 June 1905 the track was extended and Shinbaru was opened as the new southern terminus. It became a through-station on 29 December 1905 when the track was further extended to Umi. On 19 September 1942, the company, now renamed the Hakata Bay Railway and Steamship Company, with a few other companies, merged into the Kyushu Electric Tramway. Three days later, the new conglomerate, which had assumed control of the station, became the Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu). On 1 May 1944, Nishitetsu's track from Saitozaki to Umi were nationalized. Japanese Government Railways (JGR) took over control of the station and the track which served it was designated the Kashii Line. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, JR Kyushu took over control of the station.

On 14 March 2015, the station, along with others on the line, became a remotely managed "Smart Support Station". Under this scheme, although the station became unstaffed, passengers using the automatic ticket vending machines or ticket gates could receive assistance via intercom from staff at a central support centre.

Passenger statistics
In fiscal 2016, the daily average number of passengers using the station (boarding passengers only) was more than 100 but less than 323.

Surrounding area
It is the southernmost part of Sue Town, and there is a residential area in front of the station. Behind the station is a reservoir. The site where Shinbaru Park and Shinbaru Community Center are located in front of the Shinbaru bus stop on the east side of the station is the former site of the 4th pit entrance of the Navy Coal Mine and the site of the headquarters office of the Navy Coal Mine.