Kururi Line

Kururi Line
Kururi Line E130 series DMUs
Overview
Native name久留里線
StatusIn operation
OwnerJR East
LocaleChiba Prefecture
Termini
Stations14
Service
Operator(s)JR East
Depot(s)Kisarazu
Rolling stockKiHa E130 series DMU
History
Opened1912
Technical
Line length32.2 km (20.0 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed65 km/h (40 mph)
Route map


km
0.0
Kisarazu
2.6
Gion
4.2
Kazusa-Kiyokawa
Tokyo Bay
Aqua-Line Expressway
6.1
Higashi-Kiyokawa
9.3
Yokota
10.8
Higashi-Yokota
Obitsu River tributary
Obitsu River tributary
13.9
Makuta
Obitsu River tributary
Nanamagarigawa
15.2
Shimogōri
16.6
Kazusa-
Yamamoto
(
closed
1956
)
18.2
Obitsu
Oharagawa
20.0
Tawarada
Obitsu River tributary
22.6
Kururi
Obitsu River tributary
25.7
Hirayama
28.3
Kazusa-Matsuoka
32.2
Kazusa-Kameyama
km
Kururi Line train waiting for departure at Kazusa-Kameyama Station, 2009

The Kururi Line (久留里線, Kururi-sen) is a railway line in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Kisarazu Station in Kisarazu to Kazusa-Kameyama Station in Kimitsu. The railway route extends through three cities, Kimitsu, Kisarazu, and Sodegaura. It has no double-track section, and trains can pass at only two stations, Yokota Station and Kururi Station.

The line runs mostly through rural area and operates at a huge loss. JR East has announced consultations are to be held concerning the potential replacement of the last section from Kururi to Kazusa-Kamegama (around 10 km (6.2 mi)) with a bus service due to a ~75% decline in patronage since 1987.[1]

  1. ^ "Kururi Line closure plan fuels fears for Japan's rural railways".