Kaigan Line

Kaigan Line
A Kobe Municipal Subway 5000 series train in 2016
Overview
Other name(s)Yumekamome
Native name海岸線
StatusOperational
OwnerKobe Municipal Transportation Bureau
LocaleKobe
Termini
Stations10
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemThe logo of the Kobe Municipal Subway. Kobe Municipal Subway
Operator(s)Kobe Municipal Transportation Bureau
History
Opened7 July 2001; 23 years ago (2001-07-07)
Technical
Line length7.9 km (4.9 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed70 km/h (43 mph)[1]
Route map
Kobe subway lines

The Kaigan Line (海岸線, Kaigan-sen, literally "Coast Line"), also known as the "Yumekamome" (Japanese: 夢かもめ), is one of two lines of the Kobe Municipal Subway. Trains of the line are propelled by linear motors. This is the third linear motor rapid transit line to be built in Japan.

History

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Construction of the line began in 1994 but was interrupted by the Great Hanshin earthquake which hit Kobe in 1995.[2] Despite the cross section of the tunnels being smaller compared to a conventional subway tunnel, there was still a substantial amount of construction happening at surface level.[2]

After being scheduled for a 1999 opening, revenue service began in 2001.[3]

Since opening, ridership numbers have stagnated. The projected ridership within 2001 was estimated to be 80,000 boardings, the actual boardings recorded were just over 34,000 in that year.[3] The goal of 50,000 boardings by 2020 was also not achieved. As a result, the line has accumulated a deficit of over ¥100 Billion over 20 years of operation as of 2021.[3]

Operation

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The line is 7.9 km (4.9 mi) long and runs between Shin-Nagata Station in the west to Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station in the east.[2]

The maximum grade on the line is 50‰.[2]

Stations

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No. Name Japanese Inter-station
distance (km)
Total
distance (km)
Transfers
 K01  Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae 三宮・花時計前 - 0.0
 K02  Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae 旧居留地・大丸前 0.5 0.5
  • Tōkaidō Main Line (JR Kobe Line) (Motomachi)
  • Hanshin Main Line
  • Kōbe Kōsoku Line (Motomachi)
 K03  Minato Motomachi みなと元町
(ワコーレ和田興産前)
0.8 1.3  
 K04  Harborland ハーバーランド
(デュオこうべ前)
1.0 2.3
 K05  Chūō-Ichibamae 中央市場前 1.4 3.7  
 K06  Wadamisaki 和田岬
(三菱神戸病院前)
0.9 4.6 San'yō Main Line (Wadamisaki Line)
 K07  Misaki-Kōen 御崎公園 1.1 5.7  
 K08  Karumo 苅藻
(三ツ星ベルト前)
0.8 6.5  
 K09  Komagabayashi 駒ヶ林
(三国志のまち・アグロガーデン前)
0.8 7.3  
 K10  Shin-Nagata 新長田
(鉄人28号前)
0.6 7.9

Rolling stock

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  • 5000 series (since 2001)

All trains are based at Misaki-Kōen Depot.

References

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  1. ^ Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 154. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
  2. ^ a b c d "海岸線の歴史と建設工事" [Kaigan Line History and Construction Work] (PDF). SUBWAY (in Japanese). No. 220. Tokyo, Japan: Japan Subway Association. 27 February 2019. p. 38. ISSN 0289-5668. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "累積赤字1千億円超、地下鉄海岸線 開業20年、一度も黒字なし 神戸の下町、活性化遠く" [Cumulative Deficit of the Kaigan Line reaches 100 Billion Yen 20 Years Since Opening]. Kobe Shimbun Online (in Japanese). 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
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