TheMizushima Rinkai Railway (水島臨海鉄道,Mizushima Rinkai Tetsudō; "Mizushima Seaside Railway") is athird-sector railway company based inKurashiki, Okayama, Japan. The company took over operation of three former Kurashiki City Transportation Bureau lines in 1970. It mainly transports freight for the industrial area around the Port of Mizushima, but also operates a passenger service on theMizushima Main Line.
As of 1 July 2021[update], the railway operates a fleet of 11 diesel railcars and four diesel locomotives.[1]
In 2013, the company purchased six formerKiHa 30,KiHa 37, andKiHa 38diesel multiple unit (DMU) cars, which formerly operated on the JR EastKururi Line inChiba Prefecture until they were withdrawn in December 2012.[2] These entered service from 12 May 2014.[3]
The 11.2 kmMizushima Main Line (水島本線) betweenKurashiki-shi,Mitsubishi-jikō-mae, andKurashiki Freight Terminal opened in 1943 to serve an aircraft factory. In 1947, the line was transferred to the city of Mizushima for industrial development, and a passenger service between Kurashiki and Mizushima commenced the following year.
The 3.6 km freight-only Kōtō Line (港東線) between Mizushima and Higashi-Mizushima, and the 0.8 km freight-only Nishi-Futō Line (西埠頭線) between Mitsubishi-Jikō-Mae and Nishi-Futō both opened in 1962.[4]
CTC signalling was commissioned between Kurashiki and Mizushima in 1971, and the passenger service was extended to Mitsubishi-Jikō-Mae the following year.[4]
