Minamiaso Railway Takamori Line

The Takamori Line (高森線, Takamori-sen) is a Japanese railway line in Kumamoto Prefecture, between Tateno Station, Minamiaso, and Takamori Station, Takamori. This is the only railway line Minamiaso Railway (南阿蘇鉄道, Minamiaso Tetsudō, "South Aso Railway") operates. As the company name suggests, the line traverses the south part of Mount Aso caldera.

Takamori Line
Tateno Bridge with a scenic view
Overview
Native name	高森線
Locale	Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
Termini	Tateno Takamori
Stations	10
Color on map	Green (#438D80)
Service
Operator(s)	Minamiaso Railway
History
Opened	12 February 1928 (1928-02-12)
Technical
Line length	17.7 km (11.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Not electrified
Operating speed	65 km/h (40 mph)
Route map Hōhi Main Line 0.0 Tateno Hōhi Main Line 4.7 Choyo 5.7 Kase 7.2 Aso-Shimodajyo 9.1 Minamiaso Mizu-no-Umareru-Sato Hakusui-Kōgen 10.5 Nakamatsu 13.5 Aso-Shirakawa 14.3 Minamiaso-Shirakawasuigen 16.1 Miharashidai 17.7 Takamori Uncompleted section Takamori Tunnel Takachiko Takachiho Railway Takachiko Line(Now defunct)

Following the damage from severe earthquakes in April 2016, the entire Takamori Line was shut down.[1] A section of the line between Nakamatsu and Takamori resumed service in July of the same year.[2] As of September 2019, the section between Tateno and Nakamatsu is still closed. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism estimates that a complete restoration will cost between 6.5 to 7 billion yen.[1][3] In February 2023, the operating company announced that the full line will re-open on 15 July 2023.[4]

A station on the line, Minamiaso Mizu-no-Umareru-Sato Hakusui-Kōgen Station, is tied with Chōjagahamashiosaihamanasukōenmae Station in Ibaraki Prefecture as the longest station name in Japan, with 22 kana.[5]