Chikuhō Electric Railroad Line
Light rail line in Kitakyushu, Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Chikuhō Electric Railroad Line (筑豊電気鉄道線, Chikuhō Denki Tetsudō-sen) is a railway line in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, connecting Kurosaki-Ekimae in Kitakyushu with Chikuhō-Nōgata Station in Nōgata, operated by Chikuhō Electric Railroad (筑豊電気鉄道, Chikuhō Denki Tetsudō). The line does not have an official name. The company and the line are also called Chikutetsu (筑鉄). The company is a subsidiary of Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu), founded in 1951.[1] The line originally had a through service with the Nishitetsu Kitakyushu Line, a tram line closed in 2000. Because of this, the Chikutetsu Line only uses tram vehicles. However, the line is legally classified as a railway under Railway Business Act, not a tramway under Tram Act, and the line does not share any segments with public roads.
| Chikuhō Electric Railroad Line | |
|---|---|
A Chikutetsu 3000 series train on the Chikuho Railroad in April 2016 | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | 筑豊電気鉄道線 |
| Owner | Nishitetsu Group |
| Locale | Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 21 |
| Service | |
| Rolling stock |
|
| History | |
| Opened | March 21, 1956 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 16.0 km (9.9 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Minimum radius | 300 m |
| Electrification | 600 V DC overhead lines |
| Operating speed | 60 km/h (35 mph) |
Station list
| Code | Station name | Japanese | Distance (km) (between stations) |
Total distance (km) | Transfers | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CK 01 | Kurosaki-Ekimae | 黒崎駅前 | - | 0.0 |
|
Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu |
| CK 02 | Nishi-Kurosaki | 西黒崎 | 0.2 | 0.2 | Station temporarily closed on 1 October 2021 for approximately 4 years due to construction of the National Route 3 Kurosaki Bypass.[2] As of April 2026[update], the station has not reopened. | |
| CK 03 | Kumanishi | 熊西 | 0.4 | 0.6 | ||
| CK 04 | Hagiwara | 萩原 | 1.1 | 1.7 | ||
| CK 05 | Anō | 穴生 | 0.6 | 2.3 | ||
| CK 06 | Morishita | 森下 | 0.5 | 2.8 | ||
| CK 07 | Imaike | 今池 | 0.9 | 3.7 | ||
| CK 08 | Einomaru | 永犬丸 | 0.8 | 4.5 | ||
| CK 09 | Sangamori | 三ヶ森 | 0.5 | 5.0 | ||
| CK 10 | Nishiyama | 西山 | 0.7 | 5.7 | ||
| CK 11 | Tōritani | 通谷 | 1.0 | 6.7 | Nakama, Fukuoka | |
| CK 12 | Higashi-Nakama | 東中間 | 0.5 | 7.2 | ||
| CK 13 | Chikuhō-Nakama | 筑豊中間 | 0.7 | 7.9 | ||
| CK 14 | Kibōgaoka-Kōkōmae | 希望が丘高校前 | 0.9 | 8.8 | ||
| CK 15 | Chikuhō-Katsuki | 筑豊香月 | 1.4 | 10.2 | Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu | |
| CK 16 | Kusubashi | 楠橋 | 1.3 | 11.5 | ||
| CK 17 | Shin-Koyanose | 新木屋瀬 | 0.6 | 12.1 | ||
| CK 18 | Koyanose | 木屋瀬 | 0.5 | 12.6 | ||
| CK 19 | Ongano | 遠賀野 | 1.3 | 13.9 | Nōgata, Fukuoka | |
| CK 20 | Ganda | 感田 | 1.3 | 15.2 | ||
| CK 21 | Chikuhō-Nōgata | 筑豊直方 | 0.8 | 16.0 | Note: Nogata Station (Fukuhoku Yutaka Line) & Heisei Chikuhō Railway (Ita Line) is 750m away |
Rolling stock
Chikuhō Electric Railroad operates the following fleet of tramcars.[3]
- 3000 series 2-car articulated EMUs
- 5000 series 3-car articulated low-floor tramcars
3000 series
Nine 3000 series sets were introduced between 1988 and 1996.[4] As of 1 April 2017[update], all nine 3000 series sets were in operation, numbered 3001 to 3009.[3] Many 3000 series received all-over advertising.
Set 3001 in September 2016
Set 3002 in September 2016
Set 3004 in April 2016
Set 3005 in old-style livery in November 2016
Set 3006 in October 2007
Set 3007 in September 2019
5000 series
The 5000 series is a 17.6 m long low-floor tramcar type with three articulated units mounted on two bogies. As of 1 April 2017[update], three 5000 series sets were in operation,[3] with a total of four sets scheduled to be in operation by March 2018.[5]
Individual car histories are as follows.[3]
| Set No. | Manufacturer | Delivery date | Service entry date | Livery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5001 | Alna Sharyo | February 2015 | 14 March 2015 | Pink |
| 5002 | Alna Sharyo | February 2016 | 1 March 2016 | Green |
| 5003 | Alna Sharyo | February 2017 | 13 February 2017 | Pink |
| 5004 | Alna Sharyo | 2017 | 18 December 2017[6] | Light blue |
5001 in March 2015
5002 in November 2016
5003 in September 2019
5004 in August 2018
Former rolling stock
- 2000 series 3-car articulated EMUs
- 2100 series two-car articulated EMUs
2000 series
The 2000 series sets were purchased from Nishitetsu and rebuilt as three-car articulated units with four bogies.[4]
As of 1 April 2017[update], three of the original seven 2000 series sets (2002, 2003, 2006) remained in operation.[3] Each car was finished in a different colour livery as follows.[7] The remaining 2000 series sets were decommissioned around November 2022.
| Set No. | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Purple | Withdrawn |
| 2002 | Indigo | |
| 2003 | Blue | |
| 2004 | Green | Withdrawn |
| 2005 | Yellow | Withdrawn |
| 2006 | Orange | |
| 2007 | Red | Withdrawn |
Purple-liveried set 2001 in October 2007
Set 2003 in original livery in October 2007
Blue-liveried set 2003 in March 2008
Yellow-liveried set 2005 in July 2009
Red-liveried set 2007 in July 2009
2100 series
Set 2105 in 2000
History
Chikuho Electric Railroad was founded 15 February 1951.[1] The line opened on 21 March 1956, initially from Kumanishi to Chikuhō-Nakama. This was extended to Koyanose on 29 April 1958, and to Chikuhō-Nōgata on 18 September 1959.[1]
Nishi-Kurosaki Station (CK02) was temporarily closed on 1 October 2021 for approximately 4 years due to construction of the National Route 3 Kurosaki Bypass.[2] As of April 2026[update], the station has not reopened.
