| Chizu Express Company | |
| Native Name: | 智頭急行株式会社 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Type: | Third-sector |
| Genre: | Rail transport |
| Foundation: | 31 May 1986 |
| Location Country: | Japan |
| Area Served: | Hyōgo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures |
| Services: | Passenger railway |
is a Japanese third-sector railway that connects Hyōgo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures. Chizu Express operates one line, the Chizu Line.
Unlike the majority of third-sector railway companies which operate at a loss, Chizu Express makes a profit due to the track access fees paid by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) to use the Chizu Line for its Limited Express trains Super Hakuto and Super Inaba. Net profit after tax for the 2024-2025 financial year was ¥263,580,481.[1]
| Chizu Express Chizu Line | |
| Native Name: | 智頭急行智頭線 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Color: | 00008B |
| Type: | Regional rail |
| Status: | In operation |
| Locale: | Hyōgo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures |
| Stations: | 14 |
| Open: | 3 December 1994 |
| Owner: | Chizu Express |
| Operator: | Chizu Express |
| Character: | Rural |
| Stock: | HOT7000 series DMU, HOT3500 series DMU, KiHa 187 series DMU |
| Linelength: | 56.1km (34.9miles) |
| Tracks: | Entire line single tracked |
| Electrification: | None |
| Speed: | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
| Minradius: | 260 m |
| Map State: | collapsed |
The Chizu Line connects Kamigōri Station in Kamigōri, Hyōgo Prefecture and Chizu Station in Chizu, Tottori Prefecture.
The 56.1km (34.9miles) Chizu Line is not electrified, but is a high-grade railroad with an operating speed of 130km/h. JR West Limited Express services Super Hakuto and Super Inaba operate on this line.
Some local trains operate a through service from to/from Tottori on the JR West Inbi Line.
| Name | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 上郡 | 0.0 | Sanyo Main Line | Hyōgo | Kamigōri, Akō District | ||
| 苔縄 | 4.8 | |||||
| 河野原円心 | 7.4 | |||||
| 久崎 | 12.2 | Sayō, Sayō District | ||||
| 佐用 | 17.2 | Kishin Line | ||||
| 平福 | 22.5 | |||||
| 石井 | 27.1 | |||||
| 宮本武蔵 | 30.6 | Okayama | Mimasaka | |||
| 大原 | 33.2 | |||||
| 西粟倉 | 37.4 | Nishiawakura, Aida District | ||||
| あわくら温泉 | 40.6 | |||||
| 山郷 | 47.2 | Tottori | Chizu, Yazu District | |||
| 恋山形 | 50.0 | |||||
| 智頭 | 56.1 | Inbi Line | ||||
| Through service to on the Inbi Line | ||||||
Construction of the line was approved under the Railway Construction Act in 1922 and commenced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in June 1966.[2] Work was well advanced when a freeze on expenditure in 1980 resulted in construction being halted with 95% of the route acquired and 93% of the earthworks completed.[2]
The Tottori Prefectural Government facilitated the establishment of the Chizu Express Company in May 1986, which resumed construction.[2]
The line opened on December 3, 1994, and includes the 5,592 m Shitozaka tunnel.[2]
On the same day JR West's Super Hakuto Limited Express service commenced operation — — — using the Chizu Line. Travel time between Osaka & Tottori was reduced to 2.5 hours, 1.5 hours faster than previous Limited Express trains[3] . Trains were extended to operate to/from - initially as a temporary train[ja] from April 1995 then permanently for all trains from March 16, 1996. From March 16, 2024, 5 round trips were changed to operate to/from Osaka instead of Kyoto, leaving Kyoto with only 2 trips in each direction per day.
From November 29, 1997, the JR West Limited Express Super Inaba service commenced between and .
This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
