Meitetsu Chita New Line

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Meitetsu Chita New Line
An image of a Meitetsu 6800 series electric multiple unit.
A Meitetsu 6800 series at Chita Okuda Station
Overview
Other nameChita Line
Native name名鉄知多新線
OwnerMeitetsu
Locale
Termini
Stations6
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Rolling stockReference:[1]
History
Completed5 June 1980
Technical
Line length13.9 km (8.64 mi)[2]
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)[2]
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead catenary[2]
Route map

Legend
Up arrowMeitetsu Kōwa Line to Ōtagawa (太田川)
0.0
 Fuki (富貴)
Down arrowMeitetsu Kōwa Line to Kōwa (河和)
5.8
 Kami Noma (上野間)
6.7
 Mihama-ryokuen (美浜緑苑)
8.1
 Chita Okuda (知多奥田)
9.8
 Noma (野間)
13.9
 Utsumi (内海)

The Meitetsu Chita New Line (名鉄知多新線, Meitetsu Chita-shin-sen) is a Japanese railway line connecting Taketoyo with Minamichita within Aichi Prefecture. It is owned and operated by the private railway operator Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu).

The line was constructed in a part of Meitetsu's effort to develop the southern Chita Peninsula. The company encountered difficulties constructing the line such as the discovery of a shell midden. The line was completed on 5 June 1980, although residential development along the line was restricted by the time the line was complete due to the Japanese land law. The entire line is single-tracked.

History

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There has been several attempts to build a railway line into southern Chita peninsula before World War II,[3] such as Japan Governmental Railways' attempt to extend the Taketoyo Line to Morozaki, Aichi Electric Railways' (Current Meitetsu) attempt to build a line to Utsumi, and the local investors' plan to build a light railway from Taketoyo in 1913.[4] However, due to the low population density in the area, and the lack of industry,[3] none of the plans came to fruition.[4]

Meitetsu, in a part of an effort to develop the southern Chita peninsula, planned building a line to Utsumi.[5] Three potential routes were considered: extending the Meitetsu Tokoname Line down south, extending the Meitetsu Kōwa Line southwest from Kōwa Station, and the route branching off the Kōwa Line from the Fuki Station. The Tokoname route was rejected due to the length of the line needed to extend to Utsumi, and the Fuki route was preferred by the line as it was easier to develop the central part of the peninsula. For the route running west of the peninsula, the hillside route was taken to allow housing developments.[5] In 1969, Meitetsu gained permits to construct the first section of the line from Fuki Station to Bessouike signaling station.[3] Meitetsu gained permit to build the rest of the line from Bessouike to Utsumi in 1971, and started extending the line. The first section of the line to Kaminoma Station was opened in 1974. The construction of the Utsumi Station was delayed due to a midden, which was discovered in 1978.[6] The line was completed with the final extension to Utsumi on 5 June 1980. The Mihama-ryokuen Station opened on 24 April 1987 as a infill station for developments.[7][8] During the line's construction, most of the area along the line was restricted from residential development by the Japanese land law, which prevented most developments. This resulted in the line's ridership being lower than the estimated numbers.[9]One-person operation on the line commenced from the timetable revision on 18 March 2023.[10]

Network and operations

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Route

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The line branches off the Meitetsu Kōwa Line from Fuki in the eastern side of the Chita Peninsula. It crosses the peninsula and then runs on the western side facing the Ise Bay towards south. The line reaches its terminus at Utsumi, the southernmost station of Meitetsu.[2]

Services

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As of 2025, trains service the line every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., although the frequency of services are increased during rush hours. Local services runs inside the line during daytime, while through rapid/limited express services are run to stations in other lines such as Meitetsu Nagoya Station on rush hours.[11]

Infrastructure

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The entire line is single-tracked, and is elevated via viaducts to avoid level crossing to speed up services.[2][12] A station by the name Onoura Station was constructed to be opened between Noma and Utsumi, which never opened.[8] Manaca, a contactless smart card can be used in the line.[13]

Stations

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No. Image Station Japanese Between (km)[12] Distance (km)[12] Transfers Location
KC17 Fuki 富貴 - 0.0 Meitetsu Kōwa Line Taketoyo,
Chita District
KC20 Kami Noma 上野間 2.8 5.8   Mihama,
Chita District
KC21 Mihama-ryokuen 美浜緑苑 0.9 6.7  
KC22 Chita Okuda 知多奥田 1.4 8.1  
KC23 Noma 野間 1.7 9.8  
KC24 Utsumi 内海 4.1 13.9   Minamichita, Chita

References

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  1. ^ Soiri 2025, p. 141.
  2. ^ a b c d e Soiri 2025, p. 145.
  3. ^ a b c Meitetsu 1994, pp. 499.
  4. ^ a b Nakamura 1995, pp. 247.
  5. ^ a b Nakamura 1995, pp. 243.
  6. ^ Meitetsu 1994, p. 503.
  7. ^ Shimizu, Takeshi (2009). 名古屋鉄道の新線展開を振り返る (in Japanese). p. 115.
  8. ^ a b "今も残る「幻の未開業駅」廃墟 名鉄知多新線が全通した日 -1980.6.5". 乗りものニュース (in Japanese). 5 June 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  9. ^ Meitetsu 1994, p. 504.
  10. ^ "3月18日(土)にダイヤ改正を実施します" [Timetable will be revised from 18 March] (PDF). Meitetsu (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  11. ^ "内海(KC24) 時刻表 （ 知多新線 富貴・太田川・名鉄名古屋方面方面 ） | 名古屋鉄道". trainbus.meitetsu.co.jp. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Sugiura 2019, p. 57.
  13. ^ "名古屋鉄道". 名古屋鉄道 (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 November 2025.

Bibliography

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  • 名古屋鉄道百年史 [Hundred years of Nagoya Railroad] (in Japanese). Nagoya Railroad. 1994.
  • Nakamura, Takeyoshi (1995). 鉄路風雪の百年―なるほど・ザ・名鉄 [100 years of railways-The Meitetsu] (in Japanese). Chubu Economic Newspaper.
  • Soiri, Masashi (25 September 2025). 全国鉄道路線大全 2025-2026 (in Japanese). Ikaros Publications. ISBN 978-4-8022-1637-1.
  • Sugiura, Makoto (16 January 2023). 名古屋鉄道のすべて 改訂版 (鉄道まるわかり008) [Everything about Nagoya Railroad Revised edition] (in Japanese). Tabi To Tetsudo. ISBN 978-4635824569.