Kita-Matsue Line
A 5000-series passenger train on the Kita-Matsue Line along Lake Shinji
Overview
Native name	北松江線
Owner	Ichibata Electric Railway
Locale	Shimane Prefecture
Termini	Dentetsu-Izumoshi Matsue-Shinjiko-Onsen
Stations	22
Website	http://www.ichibata.co.jp
Service
Type	Heavy rail
History
Opened	29 April 1914 (1914-04-29)
Technical
Line length	33.9 km (21.1 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead line, DC 1,500 V
Operating speed	85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

The Kita-Matsue Line (北松江線, Kita-matsue-sen) is a 22.9 km railway line owned by the Ichibata Electric Railway. The line connects Dentetsu-Izumoshi Station in Izumo with Matsue-Shinjiko-Onsen Station in Matsue, all within Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Tracks run parallel to JR West's San'in Main Line on the north of Lake Shinji.

History

The line was first built to transport worshippers between Izumo and Ichibata Yakushi, a shrine to the east of the city. An extension to Matsue was completed in 1928.^[1] Before World War II, the line connected directly to Ichibata Yakushi, where a station named Ichibata Station was located nearby. However, during the war, the line was designated as an "unnecessary line", and in 1944 the section between Ichibata and Ichibataguchi Station was closed. This section would later be disassembled in 1960 and parts were offered to the Nagoya Railroad. Because of this, there is still a switchback at Ichibataguchi Station.

Centralized traffic control was introduced to the line in 1966.

Operations

The line is electrified with overhead lines and is single-tracked for the entire line.

Some services branch off the line at Kawato Station and continue along the Taisha Line to Izumo Taisha-mae Station.^[2] There are local, express, and limited express services that run along on the line, along with the Izumotaisha express service and the Superliner limited express.^[3]

Stations

All stations are within Shimane Prefecture.

References