The Kishu Railway Line (紀州鉄道線) is a railway line in Japan, running from Gobō Station to Nishi-Gobō Station. The railway line is located entirely within Gobō, Wakayama. It is the only remaining private railway line in Wakayama Prefecture that is entirely non-electrified, and is the second-shortest railway line in Japan.

Overview

The railway line is operated by Kishu Railway (紀州鉄道), and is also referred to by locals as Kitetsu (紀鉄), which is an abbreviation of the company's name. It is the only line operated by the company, as the company mostly focuses in the real estate and hotel sectors. The current Tokyo-based company, which was previously not a railway operator, took over the line in 1973 in order to gain the prestige and trust associated with operating a railway line. The railway is the second shortest railway line in service in Japan, the shortest being the Shibayama Railway.

Additional basic data

Operation

Trains stop at all stations along the line. The entire line is single-track, and none of its railway stations have passing loops. The railway depot for the line is located adjacent to Kii-Gobō Station. Most trains are timetabled to allow for onward connections to the Kisei Main Line trains at Gobō.

Station list

Rolling stock

, the railway operates a fleet of two Kitetsu 1 diesel railcars, numbered Kitetsu 1 and 2. Diesel railcar KR301, formerly SKR301 used on the Shigaraki Kohgen Railway in Shiga Prefecture until October 2015 was introduced on the line from 30 January 2016.

History

The Gobō Rinkō Railway (御坊臨港鉄道) opened the 1.8 km section from Gobō to Kii-Gobō section on 15 June 1931, extended 0.9 km to Nishi-Gobō on 10 April 1932, and to Hidakagawa on 10 August 1934. The Gobō Rinkō Railway became the Kishu Railway from 1 January 1973. The 0.7 km section from Nishi-Gobō to Hidakagawa closed on 1 April 1989.