Kita-Matsue Line
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| 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 | |||
| Stations | 22 | ||
| Website | http://www.ichibata.co.jp | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Heavy rail | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 29 April 1914 | ||
| 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) | ||
| |||
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.
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.