Meishō Line

The line was mentioned in the Railway Construction Act in 1922, which was a list of proposed railway lines to be constructed in the future. The line was a part of the proposed line that would have connected Sakurai, Nara, Nabari, and Matsusaka.^[2] The section between Matsusaka and Ieki opened in stages between 1929 and 1931. The first section to Gongemmae opened on 25 August 1929, then to Isegi in 1930, and to Ieki in 1931. The line was eventually extended to Ise-Okitsu in 1935.^[3] In 1930, the Sankyu Rapid Electric Railway opened a different railway route connecting Nabari and Matsusaka, resulting in the line not being extended any further. Because the line failed to connect the two cities, it suffered from ridership decline.^[4] Diesel multiple units began running on the line in 1934.^[5] Freight services ceased in 1965.^[3] An unmanned train descended down the line twice in 2006^[6] and 2009. This resulted in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issuing a warning against JR Central.^[7] In response, the company limited the number of drivers in the line to 20, and instructed them to use an additional brake for safety.^[8]

The closure of the line has been discussed multiple times, with the first taking place during the Deficit 83 lines movement in 1968 and the second specified local lines selection of lines, but was never closed due to the poor road conditions in the area. The closure was discussed again in October 2009, when Typhoon Melor struck the area and washed out over 40 sections between Ieki and Ise-Okitsu, but the line reopened on March 26, 2016 with help from passing municipalities.^[4] A Mie Kotsu bus service directly connected Nabari Station and Ise-Okitsu, although this service was abolished in 2021.^[9]

The Meishō Line is a rural line in the inland of Mie Prefecture.^[4] There are eight return workings a day. All trains are Local driver-only services and stop at every station. There are no limited-stop services such as rapids.^[10] Services are nearly always formed of single-car KiHa 11 series DMUs, though two cars may occasionally be used during events or busy seasons.^[11]