Yosan Line

Yosan Line
Yosan Line
	7000 series near Tsushimanomiya Station
Overview
Locale	Kagawa, Ehime Prefectures
Termini	Takamatsu; Uwajima;
Stations	94
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	JR Shikoku
History
Opened	1889
Technical
Line length	297.6 km (184.9 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Takamatsu — Iyoshi (1,500 V DC)
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph)
Route map
Route map

The Yosan Line (予讃線, Yosan-sen) is the principal railway line on the island of Shikoku in Japan, connecting the major cities of Shikoku, and via the Honshi-Bisan Line, with Honshu. It is operated by the Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku), and is aligned approximately parallel with the Inland Sea coast, connecting the prefectural capitals of Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture) and Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture) and continuing on to Uwajima. The name of the line comes from Iyo (伊予) and Sanuki (讃岐), the old names of Ehime and Kagawa, respectively.

The line consists of two alignments between Mukaibara and Iyo-Ōzu. The original main line follows the coast via Iyo-Nagahama, while the direct line, opened in 1986 as a bypass of the lengthy coastal route, goes through the mountains via Uchiko, part of which is known as the Uchiko Line (as it was originally part of the Uchiko branch), and all limited express trains now use this route.

Until 1988 the Yosan Line, along with the Dosan Line, connected with the Rail Ferry (from Uno) at Takamatsu Station. Direct services from Okayama now operate with the completion of the Great Seto Bridge system, over which the Honshi-Bisan Line travels.

Basic data

Operators, distances:
- Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) (Services and tracks)
  - Takamatsu — Uwajima: 297.6 km (184.9 mi)
  - Mukaibara — Uchiko: 23.5 km (14.6 mi)
  - Niiya — Iyo-Ōzu: 5.9 km (3.7 mi)
- Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services)
  - Takamatsu – Iyo-Yokota: 203.0 km (126.1 mi)
Double-tracked section: Takamatsu – Tadotsu
Railway signalling: Centralized Traffic Control (CTC)
Maximum speed:
- Takamatsu – Matsuyama: 130 km/h (80 mph)
- Matsuyama – Uchiko, Iyo-Iwaki – Unomachi: 120 km/h (75 mph)
- Other sections: 110 km/h (70 mph)

Services

As the most important trunk line of Shikoku, the line has many limited express services. These include:

There are two rapid services. The Sunport Nanpū Relay-Gō rapid service connects Takamatsu and Iyo-Saijō. The Marine Liner rapid service connects Takamatsu with Okayama via the Seto-Ōhashi Line.

Local service typically serves one of four sections of the Yosan Line, generally divided at Kan'onji, Iyo-Saijō, and Matsuyama.

History

The first segment of the line, from Tadotsu to Marugame, was constructed by the Sanuki Railway Co. and commenced operation in 1889. The Marugame - Takamatsu section opened in 1897, and in the company was nationalised in 1906.

The line was extended west from Tadotsu in sections commencing in 1913, reaching Matsuyama in 1927. Further west, a private 762mm (2'6") gauge line was opened from Iyo Nagahama - Iyo Ozu, with the line being nationalised in 1933. The line from Matsuyama was extended in sections to Iyo Nagahama between 1927–35, with the former private line being regauged to 1067mm (3'6") gauge in 1935. Further western extensions opened 1936-45, when Uwajima (and the Yodo Line) was connected to the Yosan line.

On August 1, 1933, the entire line was renamed the Yosan Main Line. In 1987, with the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, the line became simply the Yosan Line.

The Takamatsu - Tadotsu section was duplicated 1965-70, and CTC signalling commissioned in 1985 between Takamatsu - Matsuyama. The 'direct line' between Mukaibara - Iyo Ozu (including the 6,012m Inuyose tunnel) opened in 1986, incorporating part of the former Uchicko branch and shortening the route by 6.3 km.

The Takamatsu - Tadotsu section was electrified in 1987, enabling direct Takamatsu - Okayama services when the Seto Ohashi Bridge system opened the following year.

The Iyo Hojo - Matsumoto - Iyoshi section was electrified in 1990, with the Tadotsu - Imabari section being energised in 1992, and the Imabari - Iyo Hojo section in 1993, enabling direct Matsuyama - Okayama electric services to be introduced.

Following the Tohoku major earthquake in 2011, JR Shikoku, JR East, and JR Freight announced that JR Shikoku's popular Ampanman Torokko Train would tour areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.^[1]

Former connecting lines

Sakaide station -

The Kotohira Express Railway Co. operated a 16 km line to Kotohira on the Dosan Line 1930-44, with the line formally closing in 1954.
The Kotohira Sangu Railway Co. operated a 27 km line to Tadotsu 1922/28 - 63, with a 7 km branch to Kotohira operated 1923-63.

Niihama Station - The Sumitomo Copper Co. operated a 15 km 762 mm gauge line to Hinokiogawa (known as the 'bottom line') opened in 1893 which included a 3 km duplicated section. It carried passengers 1929-55, and was electrified at 600 V DC in 1950. The mine closed in 1973 and the railway 4 years later. An isolated 5.5 km 762 mm line, situated at 80 0m elevation (known as the 'top line') and connected to the bottom line by a cableway operated 1893–1911.

Station list

Local trains stop at every station.
For information on the Shiokaze, Ishizuchi, Uwakai and other limited express services, please see their respective articles.

Legend: Station: "●": all trains stop; "▲": some trains stop; "｜": all trains pass; Track: "∥": double-track section; "◇": single-track section (passing allowed); "｜": single-track section (no passing); "v" & "^": transition to/from double-track section

Takamatsu – Iyo-Saijō

Sunport: Includes Sunport Nanpū Relay-Gō rapid service; non-rapid Nanpū Relay-Gō trains stop at every station.

Station number	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Rapid		Transfers		Location
Station number	Station	Japanese	Between stations	Total	Sunport	Marine Liner	Transfers		Location
Y00	Takamatsu	高松	-	0.0	●	●	■ Kōtoku Line (T28) Kotoden Kotohira Line (Takamatsu-Chikkō)	∥	Takamatsu	Kagawa
Y01	Kōzai	香西	3.4	3.4	｜	｜		∥
	Takamatsu Freight Terminal	高松貨物ターミナル	1.3	4.7	｜	｜		∥
Y02	Kinashi	鬼無	1.4	6.1	▲	▲		∥
Y03	Hashioka	端岡	3.4	9.5	●	▲		∥
Y04	Kokubu	国分	2.4	11.9	▲	▲		∥
Y05	Sanuki-Fuchū	讃岐府中	2.3	14.2	｜	｜		∥	Sakaide
Y06	Kamogawa	鴨川	2.4	16.6	▲	▲		∥
Y07	Yasoba	八十場	2.0	18.6	｜	｜		∥
Y08	Sakaide	坂出	2.7	21.3	●	●	Honshi-Bisan Line (Seto-Ōhashi Line: Marine Liner through service^{[* 1]})	∥
Y09	Utazu	宇多津	4.6	25.9	●	Honshi- Bisan Line through service	Honshi-Bisan Line (Seto-Ōhashi Line: some trains through to Tadotsu and Takamatsu^{[* 1]})	∥	Utazu, Ayauta District
Y10	Marugame	丸亀	2.6	28.5	●			∥	Marugame
Y11	Sanuki-Shioya	讃岐塩屋	1.5	30.0	●			∥	Marugame
Y12	Tadotsu	多度津	2.7	32.7	●		■ Dosan Line (D12) (some trains through towards Utazu)	∨	Tadotsu, Nakatado District
Y13	Kaiganji	海岸寺	3.8	36.5	●			◇	Tadotsu, Nakatado District
	Tsushimanomiya^{[* 2]}	津島ノ宮	3.3	39.8	●			｜	Mitoyo
Y14	Takuma	詫間	2.2	42.0	●			◇
Y15	Mino	みの	2.5	44.5	●			｜
Y16	Takase	高瀬	2.5	47.0	●			◇
Y17	Hijidai	比地大	3.0	50.0	●			｜
Y18	Motoyama	本山	2.4	52.4	●			◇
Y19	Kan'onji	観音寺	4.1	56.5	●			◇	Kan'onji
Y20	Toyohama	豊浜	5.5	62.0	●			◇
Y21	Minoura	箕浦	4.4	66.4	●			◇
Y22	Kawanoe	川之江	5.8	72.2	●			◇	Shikokuchūō	Ehime
Y23	Iyo-Mishima	伊予三島	5.4	77.6	●			◇
Y24	Iyo-Sangawa	伊予寒川	4.1	81.7	●			◇
Y25	Akaboshi	赤星	4.2	85.9	●			｜
Y26	Iyo-Doi	伊予土居	2.7	88.6	●			◇
Y27	Sekigawa	関川	3.6	92.2	●			◇
Y28	Takihama	多喜浜	7.2	99.4	●			◇	Niihama
Y29	Niihama	新居浜	3.7	103.1	●			◇
Y30	Nakahagi	中萩	4.8	107.9	●			◇
Y31	Iyo-Saijō	伊予西条	6.4	114.3	●			◇	Saijō
(continues below)

^ ^a ^b Trains traveling through onto the Honshi-Bisan Line from Takamatsu do not serve Utazu but pass through it; this is reflected in fare calculations.
^ Tsushimanomiya Station opens only during the August 4 and 5 summer festival at the nearby Tsushima Shrine. Among seasonal stations the station has the shortest number of operating days per year in Japan.

Iyo-Saijō – Iyo-Nagahama – Uwajima

All stations located in Ehime Prefecture.

Station number	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers		Location
Station number	Station	Japanese	Between stations	From Takamatsu	Transfers		Location
(continued from above)
Y31	Iyo-Saijō	伊予西条	-	114.3		◇	Saijō
Y32	Ishizuchiyama	石鎚山	3.5	117.8		◇
Y33	Iyo-Himi	伊予氷見	2.5	120.3		｜
Y34	Iyo-Komatsu	伊予小松	1.3	121.6		◇
Y35	Tamanoe	玉之江	2.9	124.5		｜
Y36	Nyūgawa	壬生川	2.3	126.8		◇
Y37	Iyo-Miyoshi	伊予三芳	3.4	130.2		◇
Y38	Iyo-Sakurai	伊予桜井	7.6	137.8		◇	Imabari
Y39	Iyo-Tomita	伊予富田	3.8	141.6		◇
Y40	Imabari	今治	3.3	144.9		◇
Y41	Hashihama	波止浜	4.7	149.6		◇
Y42	Namikata	波方	2.7	152.3		◇
Y43	Ōnishi	大西	4.1	156.4		◇
Y44	Iyo-Kameoka	伊予亀岡	5.5	161.9		◇
Y45	Kikuma	菊間	4.0	165.9		◇
Y46	Asanami	浅海	4.7	170.6		◇	Matsuyama
Y47	Ōura	大浦	3.2	173.8		◇
Y48	Iyo-Hōjō	伊予北条	3.1	176.9		◇
Y49	Yanagihara	柳原	2.2	179.1		｜
Y50	Awai	粟井	1.2	180.3		◇
Y51	Kōyōdai	光洋台	2.0	182.3		｜
Y52	Horie	堀江	2.6	184.9		◇
Y53	Iyo-Wake	伊予和気	2.1	187.0		◇
Y54	Mitsuhama	三津浜	3.7	190.7		◇
Y55 U00	Matsuyama	松山	3.7	194.4	Iyotetsu Ōtemachi Line (Matsuyama-Ekimae)	◇
U01	Ichitsubo	市坪	3.5	197.9		◇
U02	Kita-Iyo	北伊予	2.4	200.3		◇	Masaki, Iyo District
U02-1	Minami-Iyo	南伊予	1.6	201.9		｜	Iyo
U03	Iyo-Yokota	伊予横田	1.1	203.0		｜	Masaki, Iyo District
U04	Torinoki	鳥ノ木	1.8	204.8		｜	Iyo
U05	Iyoshi	伊予市	1.2	206.0	■ Iyotetsu Gunchū Line (Gunchūkō)	◇	Iyo

U06 S06	Mukaibara	向井原	2.5	208.5	■ Yosan Line (for Uchiko)	｜	Iyo
S07	Kōnokawa	高野川	5.4	213.9		｜
S08	Iyo-Kaminada	伊予上灘	3.2	217.1		◇
S09	Shimonada	下灘	5.3	222.4		｜
S10	Kushi	串	2.6	225.0		｜
S11	Kitanada	喜多灘	3.2	228.2		｜	Ōzu
S12	Iyo-Nagahama	伊予長浜	4.9	233.1		◇
S13	Iyo-Izushi	伊予出石	2.8	235.9		｜
S14	Iyo-Shirataki	伊予白滝	3.4	239.3		◇
S15	Hataki	八多喜	2.4	241.7		｜
S16	Haruka	春賀	1.7	243.4		｜
S17	Gorō	五郎	2.3	245.7		｜
	Iyo-Wakamiya Junction	伊予若宮信号場	-	(247.1)	Official junction of Uchiko branch	◇
S18 U14	Iyo-Ōzu	伊予大洲	3.8	249.5	■ Yosan Line (for Niiya)	◇

U15	Nishi-Ōzu	西大洲	2.1	251.6		｜	Ōzu
U16	Iyo-Hirano	伊予平野	1.9	253.5		◇	Ōzu
U17	Senjō	千丈	7.1	260.6		◇	Yawatahama
U18	Yawatahama	八幡浜	2.2	262.8		◇
U19	Futaiwa	双岩	4.7	267.5		◇
U20	Iyo-Iwaki	伊予石城	4.9	272.4		◇	Seiyo
U21	Kami-Uwa	上宇和	3.0	275.4		｜
U22	Unomachi	卯之町	2.0	277.4		◇
U23	Shimo-Uwa	下宇和	2.6	280.0		◇
U24	Tachima	立間	6.6	286.6		◇	Uwajima
U25	Iyo-Yoshida	伊予吉田	2.7	289.3		◇
U26	Takamitsu	高光	4.6	293.9		｜
U27	Kita-Uwajima	北宇和島	2.2	296.1	■ Yodo Line (G46)^{[** 1]}	◇
U28	Uwajima	宇和島	1.5	297.6	■ Yodo Line (G47)	∧

^ Although the official start of the Yodo Line is at Kita-Uwajima, all trains run through to/from Uwajima

Mukaibara – Uchiko – Iyo-Ōzu

Station list includes the Uchiko Line section between Uchiko and Niiya.
All stations located in Ehime Prefecture.

Line	Station number	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)			Transfers		Location
Line	Station number	Station	Japanese	Between stations	Total		Transfers		Location
Yosan Line	U06	Mukaibara	向井原	-	From Mukaibara 0.0	From Takamatsu 208.5	■ Yosan Line (for Matsuyama (U06), Iyo-Nagahama (S06)) All trains through to Iyoshi and/or Matsuyama	｜	Iyo
	U07	Iyo-Ōhira	伊予大平	2.8	2.8	211.3		｜
	U08	Iyo-Nakayama	伊予中山	7.4	10.2	218.7		◇
	U09	Iyo-Tachikawa	伊予立川	6.7	16.9	225.4		◇	Uchiko, Kita District
	U10	Uchiko	内子	6.6	23.5	232.0		◇
Uchiko Line	U10	Uchiko	内子	6.6	From Niiya 5.3	232.0		◇
	U11	Ikazaki	五十崎	1.6	3.7	233.6		｜
	U12	Kitayama	喜多山	2.5	1.2	236.1		｜	Ōzu
	U13	Niiya	新谷	1.2	0.0	237.3		◇
Yosan Line	U13	Niiya	新谷	1.2	0.0	237.3		◇
		Iyo-Wakamiya Junction	伊予若宮信号場	-	(3.5)	(240.8)	Official junction of Iyo-Nagahama branch	◇
	U14	Iyo-Ōzu	伊予大洲	5.9	5.9	243.2	■ Yosan Line (for Uwajima (U14), Iyo-Nagahama (S18)) Some trains through to Uwajima	◇

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

^ "「アンパンマントロッコ」東北へ、被災地の子供たちに笑顔と元気をお届け!". 2012-02-07. Retrieved April 4, 2012.

External links

Media related to Yosan Line at Wikimedia Commons

JR Shikoku official website

[seto-2] Trains traveling through onto the Honshi-Bisan Line from Takamatsu do not serve Utazu but pass through it; this is reflected in fare calculations.

[tsushimanomiya-3] Tsushimanomiya Station opens only during the August 4 and 5 summer festival at the nearby Tsushima Shrine. Among seasonal stations the station has the shortest number of operating days per year in Japan.

[4] Although the official start of the Yodo Line is at Kita-Uwajima, all trains run through to/from Uwajima

[1] "「アンパンマントロッコ」東北へ、被災地の子供たちに笑顔と元気をお届け!". 2012-02-07. Retrieved April 4, 2012.

[1]

[* 1]

[* 2]

[** 1]