Yosan Line

• Operators, distances:
  • Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) (Services and tracks)
    • Takamatsu — Uwajima: 297.6 km (184.9 mi)
    • Mukaibara — Uchiko: 23.5 km (14.6 mi)
    • Niiya — Iyo-Ōzu: 5.9 km (3.7 mi)
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services)
    • Takamatsu – Iyo-Yokota: 203.0 km (126.1 mi)
• Double-tracked section: Takamatsu – Tadotsu
• Railway signalling: Centralized Traffic Control (CTC)
• Maximum speed:
  • Takamatsu – Matsuyama: 130 km/h (80 mph)
  • Matsuyama – Uchiko, Iyo-Iwaki – Unomachi: 120 km/h (75 mph)
  • Other sections: 110 km/h (70 mph)

As the most important trunk line of Shikoku, the line has many limited express services. These include:

• Ishizuchi
• Midnight Express Takamatsu
• Shiokaze
• Uwakai
• Shimanto
• Nanpū
• Uzushio
• Sunrise Seto
• Midnight Express Matsuyama

There are two rapid services. The Sunport Nanpū Relay-Gō rapid service connects Takamatsu and Iyo-Saijō. The Marine Liner rapid service connects Takamatsu with Okayama via the Seto-Ōhashi Line.

Local service typically serves one of four sections of the Yosan Line, generally divided at Kan'onji, Iyo-Saijō, and Matsuyama.

The first segment of the line, from Tadotsu to Marugame, was constructed by the Sanuki Railway Co. and commenced operation in 1889. The Marugame - Takamatsu section opened in 1897, and in the company was nationalised in 1906.

The line was extended west from Tadotsu in sections commencing in 1913, reaching Matsuyama in 1927. Further west, a private 762mm (2'6") gauge line was opened from Iyo Nagahama - Iyo Ozu, with the line being privatised in 1933. The line from Matsuyama was extended in sections to Iyo Nagahama between 1927–35, with the former private line being regauged to 1067mm (3'6") gauge in 1935. Further western extensions opened 1936-45, when Uwajima (and the Yodo Line) was connected to the Yosan line.

On August 1, 1933, the entire line was renamed the Yosan Main Line. In 1987, with the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, the line became simply the Yosan Line.

The Takamatsu - Tadotsu section was duplicated 1965-70, and CTC signalling commissioned in 1985 between Takamatsu - Matsuyama. The 'direct line' between Mukaibara - Iyo Ozu (including the 6,012m Inuyose tunnel) opened in 1986, incorporating part of the former Uchicko branch and shortening the route by 6.3 km.

The Takamatsu - Tadotsu section was electrified in 1987, enabling direct Takamatsu - Okayama services when the Seto Ohashi Bridge system opened the following year.

The Iyo Hojo - Matsumoto - Iyoshi section was electrified in 1990, with the Tadotsu - Imabari section being energised in 1992, and the Imabari - Iyo Hojo section in 1993, enabling direct Matsuyama - Okayama electric services to be introduced.

Following the Tohoku major earthquake, JR Shikoku, JR East, and JR Freight announced that JR Shikoku's popular Ampanman Torokko Train would tour areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.[1]

• Local trains stop at every station.
• For information on the Shiokaze, Ishizuchi, Uwakai and other limited express services, please see their respective articles.

Legend

Station: "●": all trains stop; "▲": some trains stop; "｜": all trains pass

Track: "∥": double-track section; "◇": single-track section (passing allowed); "｜": single-track section (no passing); "v" & "^": transition to/from double-track section

• List of railway lines in Japan

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

Media related to Yosan Line at Wikimedia Commons

• JR Shikoku official website