The Meitetsu Kōwa Line (名鉄河和線) is a Japanese railway line connecting Tōkai with Mihama within Aichi Prefecture. It is owned and operated by Meitetsu.

History

Before Meitetsu ownership

In the Taisho era, the only railway line connecting eastern Chita peninsula and Nagoya was the Taketoyo Line, which was inconvenient at the time due to its low number of trains. Following petitions from local residents, Aichi Electric Railways gained approval in December 1912 to build a railway line from Owari Yokosuka Station, which was under construction at the time to Handa. However, the approval expired at the end of 1915 without the construction even beginning due to the economic depression at the time affecting the company. In 1924, several influential people in the Handa and Kowa regions planned to establish a company named Chita Electric Railways. The group of people requested technical help from the Aichi Electric Railways, and approval to construct a railway line from Ōtagawa Station to Kowa was gained in 1926. The company renamed to Chita railways in 1927, with Kiyonari Aikawa as the first CEO. The construction for the section between Ōtagawa and Narawa Station began from December 1929. The construction was able to continue despite the Wall Street Crash of 1929 thanks to financial and technical aid from the Aichi Electric Railways, and the Chita Electric Railway Co. opened the 15.8km Otagawa - Narawa section for passenger services, electrified at 1500 V DC, in 1931. The 10.0km section between Narawa and Kōwaguchi Station opened in 1932. Sumiyoshichō Station, Aoyama Station, and Urashima Station opened in 1933. The 3.0km extension to Kōwa Station opened in August 1935 due to delays in land acquirement. The company merged into Meitetsu on February 1, 1943 with the ratio of 10:7.5, with all trains, infrastructures and employees transferred to Meitetsu. The line renamed to the current name, Kōwa line in 1948.

Under Meitetsu ownership

Tatsumigaoka Station was opened in July 10, 1955. In 1969, Kagiya Station between Takayokosuka and Minami Kagiya, Urashima Station between Chita Taketoyo and Fuki, and Tokishi Station (Aichi) between Kōwaguchi and Kōwa, which all were suspended during World War ll was abolished. In 1972, Shikainami Station was merged into Futto Station and was abolished. The section from Otagawa to Kowaguchi was gradually duplicated from 1960 to 1974. Agui Station was opened on July 21, 1983. Futto Station and Mukuoka Station was closed in December 16, 2006 due to low ridership. Kagiya-nakanoike Station was built between Takayokosuka and Minami Kagiya, and opened from the start of the revised timetable implemented on 16 March 2024.

Network and operations

Services

Prior to the March 2023 revision of timetables, many trains provided through service to Utsumi Station via the Chita New Line, which was drastically reduced after March 2023. Most trains provide through service to Kanayama Station via Tokoname Line. Meitetsu Limited Express services to Nagoya Station departs from Kōwa every 30 minutes.

Operators

The line is currently operated by Meitetsu, although it was operated by Chita Railways and Aichi Electric Railways before Aichi Electric Railways merged to form Meitetsu, as Meitetsu operated the line after the mergers.

Route

Meitetsu Kōwa Line branches off Ōtagawa Station to head southeast, running west of Taketoyo Line from Chitahanda to Chita-Taketoyo. The line continues south of the Chita peninsula. Meitetsu Chita New Line branches off southwest into Utsumi Station from Fuki Station. Most of the line is double-tracked, although the section between Kōwaguchi and Kōwa is single-tracked.

Stations

The line serves 19 stations (18 excluding Ōtagawa) across the length of the line. The three stations, Ōtagawa, Takayokosuka, and Aoyama are elevated while all other stations are built at grade.

Infrastructure

Rolling stocks

Accessibility

Several stations on the line have been upgraded to feature ramps, lifts, and elevators due to requests from passing municipalities.

Others