Jōhoku Line (Iyotetsu)

The Jōhoku Line (城北線, Jōhoku-sen) is a 2.7 km light rail line owned by Iyotetsu. The line runs entirely within the city of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

Jōhoku Line
A train near Shimizumachi Station
Overview
Native name	城北線
Type	Light rail
Locale	Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture
Termini	Komachi Heiwadōri 1-chōme
Stations	9
Website	http://www.iyotetsu.co.jp
Operation
Opened	22 August 1895 (1895-08-22)
Owner	Iyotetsu
Technical
Line length	2.7 km (1.7 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead line, DC 600 V

While Iyotetsu only operates light rail trains on the line, the line is legally classified as a heavy rail line. [1]

History

The Jōhoku Line was built in 1895 by Dōgō Railway (道後鉄道) as a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge railway that ran steam locomotives.[2] Dōgō Railway was merged with Iyotetsu in 1900, who continued to operate the line.[3][4] In 1911, the line was converted into 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) railway and electrified.[2][3]

Operations

The line is electrified with overhead lines and is single-tracked for the entire line. Two light rail services, route 1 and route 2, run on the line.[5]

Service	Route
1	Matsuyama City - JR Matsuyama - Kiyachō - Teppōcho - Ōkaido - Matsuyama City
2	Matsuyama City - Ōkaido - Teppōcho - Kiyachō - JR Matsuyama - Matsuyama City

Stations

: Stations served by the heritage railway train Botchan[6]

Number	Name		Distance (km)	Services			Connections
07	Komachi	古町	-	1	2		■ Takahama Line, Ōtemachi Line
08	Kayamachi 6-chōme	萱町六丁目	0.5	1	2
09/29	Honmachi 6-chōme	本町六丁目	0.9	1	2		6  Honmachi Line
10	Kiyachō	木屋町	1.1	1	2
11	Takasagochō	高砂町	1.4	1	2
12	Shimizumachi	清水町	1.8	1	2
13	Teppōcho	鉄砲町	2.2	1	2
14	Red Cross Hospital	赤十字病院前	2.5	1	2
15	Heiwadōri 1-chōme	平和通一丁目	2.7	1	2		Jōnan Line

References

1. 佐藤信之. 図解入門業界研究最新鉄道業界の動向とｶﾗｸﾘがよ〜くわかる本 (3rd ed.). 秀和システム. p. 184. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
2. "城北線 Johoku Line". 撮ってまわった日本と欧米 (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 March 2020.
3. "いよてつ125年の歴史". Iyotetsu (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 March 2020.
4. "私設鉄道株式会社免許状下付" (in Japanese). Kanpō. 2 June 1900. p. 5. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
5. "Tram Route Map" (PDF). Iyotetsu (in Japanese). Retrieved 5 March 2020.
6. "坊っちゃん列車に乗ろう！ ご利用案内". Iyotetsu (in Japanese). Retrieved 5 March 2020.