The Meitetsu Chita New Line (名鉄知多新線) 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). The line features seven tunnels and a maximum grade of 3.4% (approximately 1 in 29). It is the fourth railway line to be constructed in the Chita Peninsula, and the only railway line owned by Meitetsu to be named as a "New Line".

History

Before construction

There has been several attempts to build a railway line into southern Chita peninsula before World War II, such as Japan Governmental Railways' attempt to extend theTaketoyo 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. However, due to the low population density in the area, and the lack of industry, none of the plans came to fruition. Meitetsu, in a part of an effort to develop the southern Chita peninsula, planned building a line to Utsumi. Three potential routes were suggested: extending the Meitetsu Tokoname Line down south, extending the Meitetsu Kōwa Line southwest from Kōwa Station, and the route branching off Kōwa Line southwest. 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. In 1969, Meitetsu gained permits to construct the first section of the line from Fuki Station to Bessouike signaling station. Meitetsu gained permit to build the rest of the line from Bessouike to Utsumi in 1971, and started extending the line. The line was extended to Kaminoma Station in 1974.

Network and operations

Stations