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Wikipedia / Hisatsu Line

The is a railway line in Kyushu, Japan, operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It connects Yatsushiro on the Kagoshima Main Line to Hayato station, Kirishima on the Nippo Main Line. From 1909 the line was the original rail connection from Yatsushiro to Kagoshima (and via the Kitto Line, Miyazaki) until the Yatsushiro – Kagoshima coastal route via Sendai opened in 1927.

The major part of the line is in the mountainous Kirishima range. No through trains are operated on this line, rather, trains go from Yatsushiro to Hitoyoshi, from Hitoyoshi to Yoshimatsu, and from Yoshimatsu to Hayato. Until 2000, some trains operated direct from Kumamoto to Miyazaki via the Yatsushiro to Yoshimatsu section of the line.

Stations

Rolling stock

Current rolling stock

, the following rolling stock operates on the line:

Former rolling stock

The SL Hitoyoshi steam locomotive ran on the line until March 23, 2024:

History

The entire line was built by the government railways. The Hayato – Yoshimatsu section was opened in 1903, followed by the Yatsushiro – Hitoyoshi section in 1908. When the line names were officially designated in October 1909, the former became a part of the Kagoshima Main Line and the latter the Hitoyoshi Main Line. In November 1910, with the Hitoyoshi – Yoshimatsu section (which included the Okoba switchback and spiral) opening, both sections were connected and the Hitoyoshi Main Line was merged to the Kagoshima Main Line.

In 1927, following the opening of the current 'west coast' Kagoshima Main Line via Sendai, the line was renamed the Hitatsu Line.

Freight services ceased the day the line (and the entire JNR system) was privatised in 1987.

Former connecting lines

Kurino station – the Yamano Line junctioned here. The first 24km section of the Yamano Line was opened to Yamano in 1921. The 14km Minamata (on the Kagoshima Main Line) – Kugino section opened in 1934, and the 10km Yamano – Satsuma-Fuke section the following year. In 1937, the 8km Kugino – Satsuma-Fuke section, including the Okawa spiral opened, connecting the two sections. Freight services ceased in 1986, and the line closed in 1988.

Flood damage

Since 4 July 2020, no trains have operated on the 86.8km section of the line between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu, due to catastrophic damage caused by the 2020 Kyushu floods, including much of the track being completely destroyed, especially in areas where the line runs directly parallel to the Kuma River. Limited taxi replacement services are operating on weekdays only between Yatushiro and Hitoyoshi.

JR Kyushu has not announced a set date for resumption of rail service on this section, apart from stating that services would be suspended for an indefinite period. JR Kyushu's president Toshihiko Aoyagi has stated that the restoration cost can not be determined until agreements have been made amongst local communities, prefectures and the national government, regarding management of the Kuma River. On 17 March 2022, the restoration cost was estimated to be about 23 billion yen.

The citizens' support group Hisatsu Line-again (肥薩線again) are campaigning and raising support and awareness for the line's full restoration and return to service.

From 7 August 2025 to 11 July 2026, no trains operated on the 37.4km section of the line between Yoshimatsu and Hayato, due to damage caused by heavy rainfall. During that period, limited bus replacement services operated on weekdays only.

Train services on the 37.4km section between Yoshimatsu and Hayato were originally scheduled to resume on 28 June 2026, however, it was later announced on 22 June of that year that train services on that section would remain suspended as a result of more damage caused by heavy rainfall with repairs estimated to take at least two weeks from the time the new damage occurred. Later as repairs progressed, the section between Yoshimatsu and Hayato resumed service on 12 July 2026.

The track section between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu was featured in Microsoft Train Simulator. A Hisatsu Line-based layout is available for the Japanese model train simulator VRM.

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.

Bibliography

Route diagram: pp.12–14, Vol. 14, October 25, 2006 - JTB Publishing.