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| Akita Nairiku Line | |
|---|---|
Akita Nairiku Jūkan RailwayMoriyoshi Express train, October 2005 | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | 秋田内陸線 |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company |
| Locale | Akita Prefecture |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 29 |
| Website | www |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| Operator(s) | Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company |
| Rolling stock | AN8800 series DMU, AN8900 series DMU, AN2000 series DMU |
| History | |
| Opened | 1930 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 94.2 km (58.5 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Entire line single tracked |
| Character | Rural |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | None |
| Operating speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) |

TheAkita Nairiku Line (秋田内陸線,Akita Nairiku-sen), nicknamedSmile Rail (スマイルレール), is a Japanese railway line located inAkita Prefecture in northern Japan. It operates betweenTakanosu in the city ofKitaakita andKakunodate in the city ofSemboku. The Akita Nariku Line is the only railway line operated by thethird-sector Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway (秋田内陸縦貫鉄道,Akita Nairiku Jūkan Tetsudō; "Akita Inland Longitudinal Railway").
Trains on the line are operated as "Local" (all-stations), "Rapid", "Special Rapid", and theMoriyoshi Express service.
All stations are in Akita Prefecture.
Transfers are available only at Takanosu (JR Ou Main Line) and Kakunodate (JR Tazawako Line and Akita Shinkansen).
| Stations | km | Rapid | Connects | Locale | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | Amount distance | |||||||
| Aniai Line | Takanosu | 鷹巣 | - | 0.0 | ● | ● | JR East:■Ou Main Line(Takanosu Station) | Kita-Akita |
| Nishi-Takanosu | 西鷹巣 | 1.3 | 1.3 | ● | | | |||
| Jōmon-Ogata | 縄文小ヶ田 | 2.4 | 3.7 | ● | ● | |||
| Ōnodai | 大野台 | 2.4 | 6.1 | ● | | | |||
| Aikawa | 合川 | 3.6 | 9.7 | ● | ● | |||
| Kamisugi | 上杉 | 2.4 | 12.1 | ● | | | |||
| Yonaizawa | 米内沢 | 2.9 | 15.0 | ● | ● | |||
| Katsurase | 桂瀬 | 5.5 | 20.5 | ● | | | |||
| Ani-Maeda Onsen | 阿仁前田温泉 | 4.7 | 25.2 | ● | ● | |||
| Maeda-Minami | 前田南 | 1.9 | 27.1 | ● | | | |||
| Kobuchi | 小渕 | 2.0 | 29.1 | ● | | | |||
| Aniai | 阿仁合 | 3.9 | 33.0 | ● | ● | |||
| Arase | 荒瀬 | 2.4 | 35.4 | ◆ | | | |||
| Kayakusa | 萱草 | 2.7 | 38.1 | ◆ | | | |||
| Okashinai | 笑内 | 2.8 | 40.9 | ◆ | | | |||
| Iwanome | 岩野目 | 2.4 | 43.3 | ◆ | | | |||
| Hitachinai | 比立内 | 2.7 | 46.0 | ● | ● | |||
| New Line | Okuani | 奥阿仁 | 3.7 | 49.7 | ▲ | | | ||
| Ani-Matagi | 阿仁マタギ | 2.6 | 52.3 | ● | ● | |||
| Tozawa | 戸沢 | 8.9 | 61.2 | ▼ | | | Semboku | ||
| Kami-Hinokinai | 上桧木内 | 4.7 | 65.9 | ● | ● | |||
| Sadori | 左通 | 1.8 | 67.7 | ▼ | | | |||
| Ugo-Nakazato | 羽後中里 | 4.0 | 71.7 | ▼ | | | |||
| Kakunodate Line | Matsuba | 松葉 | 3.3 | 75.0 | ● | ● | ||
| Ugo-Nagatoro | 羽後長戸呂 | 2.9 | 77.9 | ▼ | | | |||
| Yatsu | 八津 | 5.0 | 82.9 | ▼ | | | |||
| Saimyoji | 西明寺 | 4.0 | 86.9 | ● | ● | |||
| Ugo-Ota | 羽後太田 | 3.0 | 89.9 | ▼ | | | |||
| Kakunodate | 角館 | 4.3 | 94.2 | ● | ● | JR East:■Akita Shinkansen・■Tazawako Line | ||
On December 10, 1934, theJapanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the Aniai Line (阿仁合線) connecting Takanosu withYonaizawa over a length of 15.1 kilometers.[1] Following World War II, the JGR became theJapanese National Railways (JNR), and the line was further extended toHitachinai by October 15, 1963.[1]
On November 1, 1971, the JNR Kakunodate Line began operations from Kakunodate toMatsuba,[1] with construction continuing north towards Hitachinai to provide a connection to the Aniai Line. However construction was suspended in 1980 due to JNR funding constraints.
The Kakunodate Line was closed by JNR on 11 September 1981, and the Aniai Line on 22 June 1984.
Thethird-sector Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company reopened both the Aniai Line (as the Akita Nairiku Kita Line) and the Kakunodate Line (as the Akita Nairiku Minami Line) on November 1, 1986.[1] It also recommenced construction of the suspended link (known as the New Line) which opened on April 1, 1989 creating the current through-route.[1]