Meitetsu Chita New Line
Railway line in Aichi Prefecture, Japan
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The Meitetsu Chita New Line (名鉄知多新線, Meitetsu Chita-shin-sen) is a Japanese railway line connecting Taketoyo with Minamichita within Aichi Prefecture. It is owned and operated by the private railway operator Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu).
| Meitetsu Chita New Line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A Meitetsu 6800 series at Chita Okuda Station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other name | Chita Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | 名鉄知多新線 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Meitetsu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Commuter rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | Reference:[1]
List
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| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | June 30, 1974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Completed | 5 June 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 13.9 km (8.64 mi)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC, overhead catenary[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The line was constructed in a part of Meitetsu's effort to develop the southern Chita Peninsula. The company encountered difficulties constructing the line such as the discovery of a shell midden. The line was completed on 5 June 1980, although residential development along the line was restricted by the time the line was complete due to the Japanese land law. The entire line is single-tracked.
History
There has been several attempts to build a railway line into southern Chita peninsula before World War II,[3] such as Japan Governmental Railways' attempt to extend the Taketoyo Line to Morozaki, Aichi Electric Railways' (Current Meitetsu) attempt to build a line to Utsumi, and the local investors' plan to build a light railway from Taketoyo in 1913.[4] However, due to the low population density in the area, and the lack of industry,[3] none of the plans came to fruition.[4]
Meitetsu, in a part of an effort to develop the southern Chita peninsula, planned building a line to Utsumi.[5] Three potential routes were considered: extending the Meitetsu Tokoname Line down south, extending the Meitetsu Kōwa Line southwest from Kōwa Station, and the route branching off the Kōwa Line from the Fuki Station. The Tokoname route was rejected due to the length of the line needed to extend to Utsumi, and the Fuki route was preferred by the line as it was easier to develop the central part of the peninsula. For the route running west of the peninsula, the hillside route was taken to allow housing developments.[5] In 1969, Meitetsu gained permits to construct the first section of the line from Fuki Station to Bessouike signaling station.[3] Meitetsu gained permit to build the rest of the line from Bessouike to Utsumi in 1971, and started extending the line. The first section of the line to Kaminoma Station was opened in 1974. The construction of the Utsumi Station was delayed due to a midden, which was discovered in 1978.[6] The line was completed with the final extension to Utsumi on 5 June 1980. The Mihama-ryokuen Station opened on 24 April 1987 as a infill station for developments.[7][8] During the line's construction, most of the area along the line was restricted from residential development by the Japanese land law, which prevented most developments. This resulted in the line's ridership being lower than the estimated numbers.[9]One-person operation on the line commenced from the timetable revision on 18 March 2023.[10]
Network and operations
Route
The line branches off the Meitetsu Kōwa Line from Fuki in the eastern side of the Chita Peninsula. It crosses the peninsula and then runs on the western side facing the Ise Bay towards south. The line reaches its terminus at Utsumi, the southernmost station of Meitetsu.[2]
Services
As of 2025, trains service the line every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., although the frequency of services are increased during rush hours. Local services runs inside the line during daytime, while through rapid/limited express services are run to stations in other lines such as Meitetsu Nagoya Station on rush hours.[11]
Infrastructure
The entire line is single-tracked, and is elevated via viaducts to avoid level crossing to speed up services.[2][12] A station by the name Onoura Station was constructed to be opened between Noma and Utsumi, which never opened.[8] Manaca, a contactless smart card can be used in the line.[13]
Stations
| No. | Image | Station | Japanese | Between (km)[12] | Distance (km)[12] | Transfers | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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Fuki | 富貴 | - | 0.0 | Meitetsu Kōwa Line | Taketoyo, Chita District |
 |
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Kami Noma | 上野間 | 2.8 | 5.8 | Mihama, Chita District | |
 |
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Mihama-ryokuen | 美浜緑苑 | 0.9 | 6.7 | ||
 |
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Chita Okuda | 知多奥田 | 1.4 | 8.1 | ||
 |
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Noma | 野間 | 1.7 | 9.8 | ||
 |
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Utsumi | 内海 | 4.1 | 13.9 | Minamichita, Chita |