{{Short description|Railway line in Fukui prefecture, Japan}} {{Infobox rail line | box_width = | name = Etsumi-Hoku Line<br />(Kuzuryū Line) | native_name = 越美北線 | color = 0072bc | logo = | logo_width = | image = Ichijodani_Station_platform_200507.jpg | caption = A JR West [[KiHa 120]] series DMU at Ichijōdani Station | image_width = 300px | system = | type = [[Heavy rail]] | status = In operation | locale = [[Fukui Prefecture]] | start = {{STN|Echizen-Hanandō|x}} | end = {{STN|Kuzuryūko|x}} | stations = 22 | routes = | daily_ridership = | open = 1960 | close = | owner = [[JR West]] | operator = JR West | character = Rural | depot = | stock = [[KiHa 120 series]] DMU | linelength = 52.5 km (32.6 mi) | tracklength = | tracks = Entire line single tracked | gauge = {{track gauge|1067mm}} | electrification = None | speed = 85 km/h (53 mph) | elevation = | map = [[Image:JR_Etsumihoku_Line_linemap.svg|200px]] | map_state = collapsed }}{{More citations needed|date=March 2026}} The {{nihongo|'''Etsumi-Hoku Line'''|越美北線|Etsumi Hoku-sen|"Etsumi North Line"}}, also called the {{nihongo|'''Kuzuryū Line'''|九頭竜線|Kuzuryū-sen}}, is a railway line operated by [[West Japan Railway Company]] (JR West) in [[Fukui Prefecture]], Japan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Etsumi Hokusen (Kuzuryû-sen) 越美北線 – The Railways of Japan |url=https://railwaysofjapan.net/etsumi-hokusen-kuzuryu-sen/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=railwaysofjapan.net}}</ref> The line extends 52.5 km (32.6 mi) from [[Echizen-Hanandō Station]] in [[Fukui (city)|Fukui]] to [[Kuzuryūko Station]] in [[Ōno, Fukui|Ōno]] with a total of 22 stations.
The line was originally planned to connect to what is now the [[Nagaragawa Railway]] (previously [[Etsumi-Nan Line]]), but the last 24.0 km (14.9 mi) section that would have involved extensive tunneling was never commenced.<ref name=":0" /> A bus service provided a connection between the two lines until it ceased in 2002.
== Route data == *Operating Company: **[[West Japan Railway Company]] (Services and tracks) *Distance: **Echizen-Hanandō — Kuzuryūko: 52.5 km / 32.6 mi. *[[track gauge|Gauge]]: {{track gauge|1067mm}} *Stations: 22 *Double-tracking: None *Electrification: Not electrified *[[Railway signalling]]: **Echizen-Hanandō — Echizen-Ōno: [[Automatic Block Signal|Simplified automatic]] **Echizen-Ōno — Kuzuryūko Station: [[Token (railway signalling)|Staff token]]
== Stations == * All trains stop at all stations. * Between {{STN|Echizen-Hanandō|x}} and {{STN|Fukui|x|Fukui}} trains run on the [[Hapi-Line Fukui Line]] (formerly Hokuriku Main Line). * All stations located in Fukui Prefecture.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan="2"|Station ! rowspan="2"|Japanese ! colspan="2"|Distance (km) ! rowspan="2"|Transfers ! rowspan="2"|Tracks ! rowspan="2"|Location |- !style="width:2.5em;"|Between<br />stations !style="width:3em;"|From Echizen-Hanandō |- |colspan="7" |'''Hapi-Line Fukui Line''' |- |{{STN|Fukui|x|Fukui}} |福井駅 |style="text-align:right;"| - |style="text-align:right;"|2.6 |{{Plainlist| * {{colorbull|Lime}} [[Hapi-Line Fukui Line]] (for {{STN|Kanazawa|x}}) * [[Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line]] * [[Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line]] * [[Fukui Railway Fukubu Line]] (Fukui-eki) }} |style="text-align:center;"|∥ |[[Fukui, Fukui|Fukui]] |- |colspan="7" |'''Etsumi-Hoku Line''' |- |{{STN|Echizen-Hanandō|x}} |越前花堂駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.6 |style="text-align:right;"|0.0 | {{colorbull|Lime}} Hapi-Line Fukui Line (for {{STN|Tsuruga|x}}) |style="text-align:center;"|Y |rowspan="12"|Fukui |- |{{STN|Rokujō|x}} |六条駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.3 |style="text-align:right;"|2.3 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Asuwa|x}} |足羽駅 |style="text-align:right;"|1.4 |style="text-align:right;"|3.7 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Tōgō|x}} |越前東郷駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.0 |style="text-align:right;"|5.7 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Ichijōdani|x}} |一乗谷駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.6 |style="text-align:right;"|8.3 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Takada|x}} |越前高田駅 |style="text-align:right;"|3.1 |style="text-align:right;"|11.4 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Ichinami|x}} |市波駅 |style="text-align:right;"|1.2 |style="text-align:right;"|12.6 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Kowashōzu|x}} |小和清水駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.0 |style="text-align:right;"|14.6 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Miyama|x}} |美山駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.9 |style="text-align:right;"|17.5 | |style="text-align:center;"|◇ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Yakushi|x}} |越前薬師駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.0 |style="text-align:right;"|19.5 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Ōmiya|x}} |越前大宮駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.7 |style="text-align:right;"|22.2 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Hakariishi|x}} |計石駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.2 |style="text-align:right;"|24.4 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Ushigahara|x}} |牛ヶ原駅 |style="text-align:right;"|3.2 |style="text-align:right;"|27.6 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |rowspan="10"|[[Ōno, Fukui|Ōno]] |- |{{STN|Kita-Ōno|x}} |北大野駅 |style="text-align:right;"|1.8 |style="text-align:right;"|29.4 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Ōno|x}} |越前大野駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.0 |style="text-align:right;"|31.4 | |style="text-align:center;"|◇ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Tano|x}} |越前田野駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.9 |style="text-align:right;"|34.3 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Tomida|x}} |越前富田駅 |style="text-align:right;"|1.4 |style="text-align:right;"|35.7 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Shimoyuino|x}} |下唯野駅 |style="text-align:right;"|3.1 |style="text-align:right;"|38.8 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Kakigashima|x}} |柿ヶ島駅 |style="text-align:right;"|1.0 |style="text-align:right;"|39.8 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Kadohara|x}} |勝原駅 |style="text-align:right;"|2.5 |style="text-align:right;"|42.3 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Echizen-Shimoyama|x}} |越前下山駅 |style="text-align:right;"|6.5 |style="text-align:right;"|48.8 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |- |{{STN|Kuzuryūko|x}} |九頭竜湖駅 |style="text-align:right;"|3.7 |style="text-align:right;"|52.5 | |style="text-align:center;"|｜ |} '''Legend''' * ◇ - stations with passing loops * ∥ - double-tracked section * ｜- single-tracked section * Y - junction station
==History== [[File:キハ120 越美北線 朱5号.JPG|thumb|A [[KiHa 120]] DMU at Fukui Station]] *December 15, 1960: Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Hanandō — Kadohara section (43.1 km) opens. Freight operations begin between Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Ōno. **Echizen-Hanandō, Rokujō, Echizen-Tōgō, Ichijōdani, Ichinami, Kowashōzu, Miyama, Echizen-Yakushi, Echizen-Ōmiya, Hakariishi, Ushigahara, Echizen-Ōno, Echizen-Tomida, Shimo-Yuino, Kakigashima, Kadohara stations open. * May 20, 1964: Asuwa, Echizen-Takada, Echizen-Tano stations open. * October 15, 1965: Freight operations begin between Echizen-Ōno — Kadohara. * March 25, 1968: Kita-Ōno Station opens. * October 1, 1968: Freight operations end at Kadohara Station. * December 15, 1972: Extension from Kadohara to Kuzuryūko (10.2 km) opens, including the 5251m Arashima tunnel. * April 1, 1973: Freight operations end between Echizen-Ōno — Echizen-Tomida * October 1980: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" begins operation. * November 15, 1982: Freight operations end between Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Ōno, ending freight service on the entire line. * April 1, 1987: With the breakup and privatization of Japan National Railways, line becomes part of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Beginning of line moved 800 meters to Echizen-Hanandō Station. * June 1, 1990: Driver-only operation begins. * September 1, 1992: Regular rapid service begins. * September 12, 1995: "Kuzuryū Line" name goes into use. * September 1, 1997: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" ceases operation. * March 3, 2001: Regular rapid service ends. * July 18, 2004: Due to heavy rains, five railway bridges are washed away, forcing operations to stop. * July 20, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Ōno — Kuzuryūko. * September 11, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Hanandō — Ichijōdani, Miyama — Echizen-Ōno. * June 30, 2007: Service restored between Ichijōdani — Miyama, allowing full service on the line to resume.
==See also== * [[List of railway lines in Japan]]
==References== {{commons category|Etsumi-Hoku Line}} {{reflist}}
{{West Japan Railway Company Lines}}
[[Category:Etsumi-Hoku Line| ]] [[Category:Lines of West Japan Railway Company]] [[Category:Rail transport in Fukui Prefecture]] [[Category:Railway lines opened in 1960]] [[Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan]] [[Category:Fukui (city)]] [[Category:Ōno, Fukui]]