Aichi Loop Line
Railway line in Aichi prefecture, Japan
title: "Aichi Loop Line" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rail-transport-in-aichi-prefecture", "rail-transport-in-nagoya", "1067-mm-gauge-railways-in-japan", "japanese-third-sector-railway-lines", "railway-lines-opened-in-1988", "1988-establishments-in-japan"] description: "Railway line in Aichi prefecture, Japan" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aichi_Loop_Line" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Railway line in Aichi prefecture, Japan ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail line"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Aichi Loop Line |
| color | 0000CD |
| logo | Aikan logomark.svg |
| logo_width | 50px |
| logo_alt | Logo of Aichi Loop Line |
| image | Aikan Series2000-G7.jpg |
| image_width | 300px |
| caption | Local train approaching Mutsuna Station |
| type | Commuter rail |
| locale | Aichi Prefecture |
| start | |
| end | |
| stations | 23 |
| open | 31 January 1988 |
| operator | Aichi Loop Railway |
| stock | Aichi Loop Railway 2000 series |
| tracklength | 45.3 km |
| gauge | |
| electrification | 1,500 V DC |
| speed_km/h | 110 |
| map | [[File:Aichi Loop Line Area Map.png |
| :: |
| name = Aichi Loop Line | color = 0000CD | logo = Aikan logomark.svg | logo_width = 50px | logo_alt = Logo of Aichi Loop Line | image = Aikan Series2000-G7.jpg | image_width = 300px | image_alt = | caption = Local train approaching Mutsuna Station | type = Commuter rail | system = | status = | locale = Aichi Prefecture | start = | end = | stations = 23 | routes = | open = 31 January 1988 | close = | owner = | operator = Aichi Loop Railway | depot = | stock = Aichi Loop Railway 2000 series | linelength_km = | tracklength = 45.3 km | tracks = | gauge = | old_gauge = | minradius = | electrification = 1,500 V DC | speed_km/h = 110 | website = | map = [[File:Aichi Loop Line Area Map.png|center|300px|Map of Aichi loop line and other nearby lines]] | map_state =
The Aichi Loop Line is a Japanese railway line connecting Okazaki Station in Okazaki and Kōzōji Station in Kasugai. It is the sole line operated by the third-sector Aichi Loop Railway. The line and operating company are both abbreviated as Aikan.
First proposed in 1927 by the amended Railway Construction Act, the line was originally planned to connect Okazaki to Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture. The line was constructed by the Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation from 1965 to 1970, and opened as a line of the Japanese National Railways on 1 October 1970. After making deficits, the line was transferred to the third-sector company Aichi Loop Railway in 1988. Since then, the company has partially duplicated the line. Shares of the company are held partially by public sector entities such as Aichi Prefecture and Toyota City along with private companies. Unlike typical third-sector lines in Japan, the Aichi Loop Line makes a profit, as it functions as commuter rail for nearby Toyota Motor factories and offices.
Despite its name, and unlike other loop lines in Japan, the line is a not a true loop; however, it can be said to complete a loop with the JR Tokaido Line and Chuo Line serving as other portions of the circle.
History
The line's construction was proposed by the amended Railway Construction Act on 30 March 1927. The line was described as a railway line starting from Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, passing through Koromo and terminating at Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture. The Ministry of Railways considered establishing bus routes before constructing railway lines for some of the proposed lines that were considered hard to sustain. Out of the seven candidates, this route was selected as the first bus route of this plan. The bus route opened as the Okata Line on 20 December 1930 with seven buses and ten trucks. This bus line has since been abolished in 2002.
Construction of the Okata Line by the Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation commenced on 13 August 1965. Freight operations on the line between Okazaki and Kitano-Masuzuka began on 1 October 1970. The first section of the line between Okazaki and Kitano-Masuzuka opened for passengers in 1970, as a railway line of the Japanese National Railways (JNR). The section between Kitano-Masuzuka and Shin-Toyota was extended and the whole line started a passenger service in 1976. Another part of the line, between Setoshi and Kōzōji, was originally part of a freight line planned as the JNR Seto Line. The line did not do well financially under JNR ownership due to lack of passengers.
The newly founded third-sector Aichi Loop Line Company took over the line, now renamed to the Aichi Loop Line, from Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), with services starting on 31 January 1988. Beginning on 1 March 2005, through service began with the JR Chuo Main Line to Nagoya Station, initially to carry visitors to the site of Expo 2005. When Toyota began promoting the use of public transit to their employees, the Aichi Loop Railway decided to duplicate the track between Mikawa-Toyota and Shin Toyota Station. The company was funded by the government, Aichi Prefecture, passing municipalities, etc. This work began in 2005, which also changed the track layout of the Mikawa-Toyota Station and relocated the platform in the Shin-Uwagoromo Station. The duplicated tracks entered service in 2008, and the service interval between the section was decreased to eight minutes at peak times. The line became compatible with TOICA, a contactless smart card, on 2 March 2019.
Network and operations
Services
Three to five trains run in each direction per hour, while one or two train run in each direction instead during the first and last hours of service. Trains in two-car or four-car formations are operated. Some services operate with reduced cars, or are not operated at all during weekends. The line operates using the Aichi Loop Railway 2000 series.
The line does not form a loop line by itself, although it connects to the Chūō Main Line or the Tōkaidō Main Line on each side of the terminus. Toyota factories and offices, along with various schools, are located alongside the line, and the line transports commuters to those locations, allowing it to turn a profit unlike other formerly JNR-owned third-sector companies.
Infrastructure
Rolling stock
- Aichi Loop Railway 2000 series (2 or 4 cars)
- JR Central 315 series (through service, 8 cars)
Station list
::data[format=table] | Station No. | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | Between stations | Total | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | ↓Through service to Nagoya Station via the Chūō Main Line↓ | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 岡崎 | - | 0.0 | [[File:JR Central Tokaido Line.svg|20px]] Tōkaidō Main Line | Okazaki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 六名 | 1.7 | 1.7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 中岡崎 | 1.7 | 3.4 | [[File:MT number-NH.svg|20px]] Meitetsu Nagoya Line () | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 北岡崎 | 1.9 | 5.3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 大門 | 1.2 | 6.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 北野桝塚 | 2.2 | 8.7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 三河上郷 | 2.0 | 10.7 | | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 永覚 | 1.7 | 12.4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 末野原 | 1.6 | 14.0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 三河豊田 | 1.9 | 15.9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 新上挙母 | 1.7 | 17.6 | [[File:MT number-MY.svg|20px]] Meitetsu Mikawa Line () | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 新豊田 | 1.9 | 19.5 | [[File:MT number-MY.svg|20px]] Meitetsu Mikawa (Toyota) Line () | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 愛環梅坪 | 2.0 | 21.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 四郷 | 2.0 | 23.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 貝津 | 2.0 | 25.5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 保見 | 1.3 | 26.8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 篠原 | 2.4 | 29.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 八草 | 2.8 | 32.0 | [[File:LS-L09.svg|20px]] Linimo (L09) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 山口 | 2.6 | 34.6 | | Seto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 瀬戸口 | 2.1 | 36.7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 瀬戸市 | 2.4 | 39.1 | [[File:MT number-ST.svg|20px]] Meitetsu Seto Line () | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 中水野 | 2.8 | 41.9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 高蔵寺 | 3.4 | 45.3 | [[File:JR Central Chuo Line.svg|20px]] Chūō Main Line | Kasugai | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::
References
Bibliography
References
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- (2025-06-21). "国鉄が開設した「最初のバス路線」とは？ “自動車駅”も存在 当時に近いルートをたどって乗り継いでみた".
- (2022-01-31). "愛知環状鉄道が開業した日 岡多線を継ぎ高蔵寺まで延伸 -1988.1.31".
- (2021-02-10). "名鉄以外も個性派ぞろい､愛知ご当地鉄道事情".
- "愛知環状鉄道 - 愛知県".
- "「TOICA」エリア、JR東海3路線で拡大 愛知環状鉄道も新たに対応へ {{!}} 乗りものニュース". 乗りものニュース.
- "高蔵寺駅の時刻表｜愛知環状鉄道株式会社".
- (2023-06-10). "愛知環状鉄道は、名古屋圏つなぐ通勤・通学の足…車窓からは岡崎城を望めます".
- (2017-06-20). "愛知環状鉄道、三セクなのに絶好調 実は沿線に…：朝日新聞".
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