Hakata-Minami Line
The Hakata- Minami Line (Japanese博多南 线, Hakataminami - sen) is a JR Nishinihon (English JR West) operated Japanese railway line, which is used by Shinkansen high-speed trains, but is conveniently legally part of the conventional rail network. The track is used by trains of the Shinkansen San'yo and since 2011 also of the Kyūshū Shinkansen trains.
History
The 8.5 kilometers short Hakata- Minami Line was built in 1975 as a supply of trains of San'yo Shinkansen from Hakata Station to Hakata Shinkansen depot. At that time, the surrounding city Kasuga was still predominantly rural, so that at first was no demand for a Shinkansen stop. Due to the strong suburbanization of Fukuoka, the area was, however, increasingly built in the 1980s, so that JR West decided to set up on the grounds of the depot the Hakata - Minami. The station consists of a single side platform at the westernmost track the footprint of the rail operations work. Individual trains to or from the depot can hold so without additional operational effort at the station.
The train station and thus the actual, relevant passenger line opened on 1 April 1990. Structurally, the entire route full Shinkansen construction standard. However, the speed is limited to 120 km / hr.
Offer and use of vehicles
A variety of compounds of San'yo Kodama Shinkansen will be extended from Hakata on the Hakata- Minami- line to the Hakata- Minami Station. Since the distance is, however, railroads not legally categorized as Shinkansen line, the drives are done on this section formally as Limited Express connections. A trip between Hakata and Hakata - Minami costs 290 yen and takes 10 minutes.
First series vehicles 0 came to the opening for use, later, the series 100, 500 and 700 The last vehicles of the 100 series have been placed out of service in March 2012.
Although the trains, which opened March 12, 2011 Kyushu Shinkansen also use the Hakata- Minami Line, hold, however, not at Hakata- Minami Station since before the site of the train depot, the actual new line starts, passing by the site.