5-744: The Nishi-Kyushu Line ( 西九州線 , Nishi-Kyūshū-sen ) is a Japanese railway line operated by the private railway operator Matsuura Railway , which connects Arita in Saga Prefecture with Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture . This is the westernmost railway line in Japan, with Tabira-Hiradoguchi Station being the westernmost station. The Kansai Coal Mining Co. opened a 12 km (7.5 mi), 2 ft 6 in ( 762 mm ) gauge line from Saza to Sechibaru via Yoshii in 1896. The 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ) Arita - Imari section of
10-626: The company was nationalised in October 1936. Between 1943 and 1944, the line was regauged to 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ), with a new alignment opened in March 1945, linking the two sections. From 1 April 1988, the line between Arita and Sasebo was transferred from JNR operation to the privately owned Matsuura Railway. Rapid Service: Down trains (to Sasebo) operate between Saza and Sasebo. Up trains (from Sasebo) operate between Sasebo and Tabira-Hiradoguchi. This article incorporates material from
15-760: The corresponding article in the Japanese Misplaced Pages Matsuura Railway Matsuura Railway ( 松浦鉄道 , Matsuura tetsudō ) is a third-sector railway company in Nagasaki and Saga Prefecture in Japan. The railway company operates the 93.8 km Nishi-Kyushu Line from Arita in Saga Prefecture to Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture, with 57 stations. The company was established in December 1987, and took over operation of
20-575: The line was opened on 7 August 1898 by the Imari Railway ( 伊万里鉄道 , Imari Tetsudō ) , which merged with the Kyushu Railway in December of the same year. In 1907, the line was nationalised, becoming the Imari Line ( 伊万里線 , Imari-sen ) . The line was extended to Imabuku in 1930, Matsuura in 1933, Tabira-Hiradoguchi in 1935, and Senryūgataki in 1939. The then isolated Hidariishi - Ainoura section
25-594: Was opened as a 2 ft 6 in ( 762 mm ) gauge line by the Sasebo Light Railway ( 佐世保軽便鉄道 , Sasebo Keibin Tetsudō ) for coal transportation on 27 March 1920, and extended to Kami-Sasebo the following year. In 1931, it was extended to Saza, with the company acquiring the Kansai Coal line to Sechibaru in 1933 and passenger services to Yoshii commencing in 1934. A connection to Sasebo opened in 1935, and
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