The is a railway line in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It connects Ayabe and Higashi-Maizuru, the line beyond there being called the Obama Line connecting to Tsuruga.

Stations

History

The line opened in the autumn of 1904 to transport troops and materiel to the naval base and Maizuru-Higashi Port during the Russo-Japanese War, which commenced in February of that year. Although built by the Japanese Government, it was initially leased to (sometimes erroneously transliterated as Bantsuru Railway), which opened the Ayabe–Fukuchiyama section of what is now the San'in Main Line.

The company was nationalised in 1907, the year the 2km from Nishi-Maizuru to Maizuru Port opened. Passenger services operated on that branch between 1913 and 1924, and it closed in 1985.

Nishi-Maizuru was also the junction for the 4km to Naka-Maizuru which operated between 1919 and 1972.

The line was electrified in 1999.

From the start of the revised timetable on 13 March 2021, Rapid trains that passed through Magura Station were discontinued and were changed to Local trains.

From the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2023, 125 series trainsets began operation on the Maizuru Line.

References