Yosan Line
# Yosan Line

The Yosan Line (予讃線, Yosan-sen) is the principal railway line on the island of Shikoku in Japan, connecting the major cities of Shikoku, and via the Honshi-Bisan Line, with Honshu. It is operated by the Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku), and is aligned approximately parallel with the Inland Sea coast, connecting the prefectural capitals of Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture) and Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture) and continuing on to Uwajima. The name of the line comes from Iyo (伊予) and Sanuki (讃岐), the old names of Ehime and Kagawa, respectively.

The line consists of two alignments between Mukaibara and Iyo-Ōzu. The original main line follows the coast via Iyo-Nagahama, while the direct line, opened in 1986 as a bypass of the lengthy coastal route, goes through the mountains via Uchiko, part of which is known as the Uchiko Line (as it was originally part of the Uchiko branch), and all limited express trains now use this route.

Until 1988 the Yosan Line, along with the Dosan Line, connected with the Rail Ferry (from Uno) at Takamatsu Station. Direct services from Okayama now operate with the completion of the Great Seto Bridge system, over which the Honshi-Bisan Line travels.

## Basic data

* 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)

## Services

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.

## History

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.

### Former connecting lines

Sakaide station -

* The Kotohira Express Railway Co. operated a 16 km line to Kotohira on the Dosan Line 1930-44, with the line formally closing in 1954.
* The Kotohira Sangu Railway Co. operated a 27 km line to Tadotsu 1922/28 - 63, with a 7 km branch to Kotohira operated 1923-63.

Niihama Station - The Sumitomo Copper Co. operated a 15 km 762 mm gauge line to Hinokiogawa (known as the 'bottom line') opened in 1893 which included a 3 km duplicated section. It carried passengers 1929-55, and was electrified at 600 V DC in 1950. The mine closed in 1973 and the railway 4 years later. An isolated 5.5 km 762 mm line, situated at 80 0m elevation (known as the 'top line') and connected to the bottom line by a cableway operated 1893–1911.

## Station list

* 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

### Takamatsu – Iyo-Saijō

* Sunport: Includes Sunport Nanpū Relay-Gō rapid service; non-rapid Nanpū Relay-Gō trains stop at every station.

| Station number | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Distance (km) | Rapid | Rapid | Transfers | | Location | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Station number | Station | Japanese | Between stations | Total | Sunport | Marine Liner | Transfers | | Location | Location |
| Y00 | Takamatsu | 高松 | - | 0.0 | ● | ● | ■ Kōtoku Line (T28) Kotoden Kotohira Line (Takamatsu-Chikkō) | ∥ | Takamatsu | Kagawa |
| Y01 | Kōzai | 香西 | 3.4 | 3.4 | ｜ | ｜ | | ∥ | Takamatsu | Kagawa |
| | Takamatsu Freight Terminal | 高松貨物ターミナル | 1.3 | 4.7 | ｜ | ｜ | | ∥ | Takamatsu | Kagawa |
| Y02 | Kinashi | 鬼無 | 1.4 | 6.1 | ▲ | ▲ | | ∥ | Takamatsu | Kagawa |
| Y03 | Hashioka | 端岡 | 3.4 | 9.5 | ● | ▲ | | ∥ | Takamatsu | Kagawa |
| Y04 | Kokubu | 国分 | 2.4 | 11.9 | ▲ | ▲ | | ∥ | Takamatsu | Kagawa |
| Y05 | Sanuki-Fuchū | 讃岐府中 | 2.3 | 14.2 | ｜ | ｜ | | ∥ | Sakaide | Kagawa |
| Y06 | Kamogawa | 鴨川 | 2.4 | 16.6 | ▲ | ▲ | | ∥ | Sakaide | Kagawa |
| Y07 | Yasoba | 八十場 | 2.0 | 18.6 | ｜ | ｜ | | ∥ | Sakaide | Kagawa |
| Y08 | Sakaide | 坂出 | 2.7 | 21.3 | ● | ● | Honshi-Bisan Line (Seto-Ōhashi Line: Marine Liner through service) | ∥ | Sakaide | Kagawa |
| Y09 | Utazu | 宇多津 | 4.6 | 25.9 | ● | Honshi- Bisan Line through service | Honshi-Bisan Line (Seto-Ōhashi Line: some trains through to Tadotsu and Takamatsu) | ∥ | Utazu, Ayauta District | Kagawa |
| Y10 | Marugame | 丸亀 | 2.6 | 28.5 | ● | Honshi- Bisan Line through service | | ∥ | Marugame | Kagawa |
| Y11 | Sanuki-Shioya | 讃岐塩屋 | 1.5 | 30.0 | ● | Honshi- Bisan Line through service | | ∥ | Marugame | Kagawa |
| Y12 | Tadotsu | 多度津 | 2.7 | 32.7 | ● | Honshi- Bisan Line through service | ■ Dosan Line (D12) (some trains through towards Utazu) | ∨ | Tadotsu, Nakatado District | Kagawa |
| Y13 | Kaiganji | 海岸寺 | 3.8 | 36.5 | ● | Honshi- Bisan Line through service | | ◇ | Tadotsu, Nakatado District | Kagawa |
| | Tsushimanomiya | 津島ノ宮 | 3.3 | 39.8 | ● | Honshi- Bisan Line through service | | ｜ | Mitoyo | Kagawa |
| Y14 | Takuma | 詫間 | 2.2 | 42.0 | ● | Honshi- Bisan Line through service | | ◇ | Mitoyo | Kagawa |
| Y15 | Mino | みの | 2.5 | 44.5 | ● | | | ｜ | Mitoyo | Kagawa |
| Y16 | Takase | 高瀬 | 2.5 | 47.0 | ● | | | ◇ | Mitoyo | Kagawa |
| Y17 | Hijidai | 比地大 | 3.0 | 50.0 | ● | | | ｜ | Mitoyo | Kagawa |
| Y18 | Motoyama | 本山 | 2.4 | 52.4 | ● | | | ◇ | Mitoyo | Kagawa |
| Y19 | Kan'onji | 観音寺 | 4.1 | 56.5 | ● | | | ◇ | Kan'onji | Kagawa |
| Y20 | Toyohama | 豊浜 | 5.5 | 62.0 | ● | | | ◇ | Kan'onji | Kagawa |
| Y21 | Minoura | 箕浦 | 4.4 | 66.4 | ● | | | ◇ | Kan'onji | Kagawa |
| Y22 | Kawanoe | 川之江 | 5.8 | 72.2 | ● | | | ◇ | Shikokuchūō | Ehime |
| Y23 | Iyo-Mishima | 伊予三島 | 5.4 | 77.6 | ● | | | ◇ | Shikokuchūō | Ehime |
| Y24 | Iyo-Sangawa | 伊予寒川 | 4.1 | 81.7 | ● | | | ◇ | Shikokuchūō | Ehime |
| Y25 | Akaboshi | 赤星 | 4.2 | 85.9 | ● | | | ｜ | Shikokuchūō | Ehime |
| Y26 | Iyo-Doi | 伊予土居 | 2.7 | 88.6 | ● | | | ◇ | Shikokuchūō | Ehime |
| Y27 | Sekigawa | 関川 | 3.6 | 92.2 | ● | | | ◇ | Shikokuchūō | Ehime |
| Y28 | Takihama | 多喜浜 | 7.2 | 99.4 | ● | | | ◇ | Niihama | Ehime |
| Y29 | Niihama | 新居浜 | 3.7 | 103.1 | ● | | | ◇ | Niihama | Ehime |
| Y30 | Nakahagi | 中萩 | 4.8 | 107.9 | ● | | | ◇ | Niihama | Ehime |
| Y31 | Iyo-Saijō | 伊予西条 | 6.4 | 114.3 | ● | | | ◇ | Saijō | Ehime |
| (continues below) |||||||||||

* 1 2 Trains traveling through onto the Honshi-Bisan Line from Takamatsu do not serve Utazu but pass through it; this is reflected in fare calculations.
* ↑ Tsushimanomiya Station opens only during the August 4 and 5 summer festival at the nearby Tsushima Shrine. Among seasonal stations the station has the shortest number of operating days per year in Japan.

### Iyo-Saijō – Iyo-Nagahama – Uwajima

* All stations located in Ehime Prefecture.

| Station number | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Distance (km) | Transfers | | Location | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Station number | Station | Japanese | Between stations | From Takamatsu | Transfers | | Location | Location |
| (continued from above) |||||||||
| Y31 | Iyo-Saijō | 伊予西条 | - | 114.3 | | ◇ | Saijō |
| Y32 | Ishizuchiyama | 石鎚山 | 3.5 | 117.8 | | ◇ | Saijō |
| Y33 | Iyo-Himi | 伊予氷見 | 2.5 | 120.3 | | ｜ | Saijō |
| Y34 | Iyo-Komatsu | 伊予小松 | 1.3 | 121.6 | | ◇ | Saijō |
| Y35 | Tamanoe | 玉之江 | 2.9 | 124.5 | | ｜ | Saijō |
| Y36 | Nyūgawa | 壬生川 | 2.3 | 126.8 | | ◇ | Saijō |
| Y37 | Iyo-Miyoshi | 伊予三芳 | 3.4 | 130.2 | | ◇ | Saijō |
| Y38 | Iyo-Sakurai | 伊予桜井 | 7.6 | 137.8 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y39 | Iyo-Tomita | 伊予富田 | 3.8 | 141.6 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y40 | Imabari | 今治 | 3.3 | 144.9 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y41 | Hashihama | 波止浜 | 4.7 | 149.6 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y42 | Namikata | 波方 | 2.7 | 152.3 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y43 | Ōnishi | 大西 | 4.1 | 156.4 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y44 | Iyo-Kameoka | 伊予亀岡 | 5.5 | 161.9 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y45 | Kikuma | 菊間 | 4.0 | 165.9 | | ◇ | Imabari |
| Y46 | Asanami | 浅海 | 4.7 | 170.6 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| Y47 | Ōura | 大浦 | 3.2 | 173.8 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| Y48 | Iyo-Hōjō | 伊予北条 | 3.1 | 176.9 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| Y49 | Yanagihara | 柳原 | 2.2 | 179.1 | | ｜ | Matsuyama |
| Y50 | Awai | 粟井 | 1.2 | 180.3 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| Y51 | Kōyōdai | 光洋台 | 2.0 | 182.3 | | ｜ | Matsuyama |
| Y52 | Horie | 堀江 | 2.6 | 184.9 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| Y53 | Iyo-Wake | 伊予和気 | 2.1 | 187.0 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| Y54 | Mitsuhama | 三津浜 | 3.7 | 190.7 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| Y55 U00 | Matsuyama | 松山 | 3.7 | 194.4 | Iyotetsu Ōtemachi Line (Matsuyama-Ekimae) | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| U01 | Ichitsubo | 市坪 | 3.5 | 197.9 | | ◇ | Matsuyama |
| U02 | Kita-Iyo | 北伊予 | 2.4 | 200.3 | | ◇ | Masaki, Iyo District |
| U02-1 | Minami-Iyo | 南伊予 | 1.6 | 201.9 | | ｜ | Iyo |
| U03 | Iyo-Yokota | 伊予横田 | 1.1 | 203.0 | | ｜ | Masaki, Iyo District |
| U04 | Torinoki | 鳥ノ木 | 1.8 | 204.8 | | ｜ | Iyo |
| U05 | Iyoshi | 伊予市 | 1.2 | 206.0 | ■ Iyotetsu Gunchū Line (Gunchūkō) | ◇ | Iyo |
| U06 S06 | Mukaibara | 向井原 | 2.5 | 208.5 | ■ Yosan Line (for Uchiko) | ｜ | Iyo |
| S07 | Kōnokawa | 高野川 | 5.4 | 213.9 | | ｜ | Iyo |
| S08 | Iyo-Kaminada | 伊予上灘 | 3.2 | 217.1 | | ◇ | Iyo |
| S09 | Shimonada | 下灘 | 5.3 | 222.4 | | ｜ | Iyo |
| S10 | Kushi | 串 | 2.6 | 225.0 | | ｜ | Iyo |
| S11 | Kitanada | 喜多灘 | 3.2 | 228.2 | | ｜ | Ōzu |
| S12 | Iyo-Nagahama | 伊予長浜 | 4.9 | 233.1 | | ◇ | Ōzu |
| S13 | Iyo-Izushi | 伊予出石 | 2.8 | 235.9 | | ｜ | Ōzu |
| S14 | Iyo-Shirataki | 伊予白滝 | 3.4 | 239.3 | | ◇ | Ōzu |
| S15 | Hataki | 八多喜 | 2.4 | 241.7 | | ｜ | Ōzu |
| S16 | Haruka | 春賀 | 1.7 | 243.4 | | ｜ | Ōzu |
| S17 | Gorō | 五郎 | 2.3 | 245.7 | | ｜ | Ōzu |
| | Iyo-Wakamiya Junction | 伊予若宮信号場 | - | (247.1) | Official junction of Uchiko branch | ◇ | Ōzu |
| S18 U14 | Iyo-Ōzu | 伊予大洲 | 3.8 | 249.5 | ■ Yosan Line (for Niiya) | ◇ | Ōzu |
| U15 | Nishi-Ōzu | 西大洲 | 2.1 | 251.6 | | ｜ | Ōzu |
| U16 | Iyo-Hirano | 伊予平野 | 1.9 | 253.5 | | ◇ | Ōzu |
| U17 | Senjō | 千丈 | 7.1 | 260.6 | | ◇ | Yawatahama |
| U18 | Yawatahama | 八幡浜 | 2.2 | 262.8 | | ◇ | Yawatahama |
| U19 | Futaiwa | 双岩 | 4.7 | 267.5 | | ◇ | Yawatahama |
| U20 | Iyo-Iwaki | 伊予石城 | 4.9 | 272.4 | | ◇ | Seiyo |
| U21 | Kami-Uwa | 上宇和 | 3.0 | 275.4 | | ｜ | Seiyo |
| U22 | Unomachi | 卯之町 | 2.0 | 277.4 | | ◇ | Seiyo |
| U23 | Shimo-Uwa | 下宇和 | 2.6 | 280.0 | | ◇ | Seiyo |
| U24 | Tachima | 立間 | 6.6 | 286.6 | | ◇ | Uwajima |
| U25 | Iyo-Yoshida | 伊予吉田 | 2.7 | 289.3 | | ◇ | Uwajima |
| U26 | Takamitsu | 高光 | 4.6 | 293.9 | | ｜ | Uwajima |
| U27 | Kita-Uwajima | 北宇和島 | 2.2 | 296.1 | ■ Yodo Line (G46) | ◇ | Uwajima |
| U28 | Uwajima | 宇和島 | 1.5 | 297.6 | ■ Yodo Line (G47) | ∧ | Uwajima |

* ↑ Although the official start of the Yodo Line is at Kita-Uwajima, all trains run through to/from Uwajima

### Mukaibara – Uchiko – Iyo-Ōzu

* Station list includes the Uchiko Line section between Uchiko and Niiya.
* All stations located in Ehime Prefecture.

| Line | Station number | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Distance (km) | Distance (km) | Transfers | | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Line | Station number | Station | Japanese | Between stations | Total | Total | | Transfers | | Location |
| Yosan Line | U06 | Mukaibara | 向井原 | - | From Mukaibara 0.0 | From Takamatsu 208.5 | ■ Yosan Line (for Matsuyama (U06), Iyo-Nagahama (S06)) All trains through to Iyoshi and/or Matsuyama | ｜ | Iyo |
| Yosan Line | U07 | Iyo-Ōhira | 伊予大平 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 211.3 | | ｜ | Iyo |
| Yosan Line | U08 | Iyo-Nakayama | 伊予中山 | 7.4 | 10.2 | 218.7 | | ◇ | Iyo |
| Yosan Line | U09 | Iyo-Tachikawa | 伊予立川 | 6.7 | 16.9 | 225.4 | | ◇ | Uchiko, Kita District |
| Yosan Line | U10 | Uchiko | 内子 | 6.6 | 23.5 | 232.0 | | ◇ | Uchiko, Kita District |
| Uchiko Line | U10 | Uchiko | 内子 | 6.6 | From Niiya 5.3 | 232.0 | | ◇ | Uchiko, Kita District |
| Uchiko Line | U11 | Ikazaki | 五十崎 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 233.6 | | ｜ | Uchiko, Kita District |
| Uchiko Line | U12 | Kitayama | 喜多山 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 236.1 | | ｜ | Ōzu |
| Uchiko Line | U13 | Niiya | 新谷 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 237.3 | | ◇ | Ōzu |
| Yosan Line | U13 | Niiya | 新谷 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 237.3 | | ◇ | Ōzu |
| Yosan Line | | Iyo-Wakamiya Junction | 伊予若宮信号場 | - | (3.5) | (240.8) | Official junction of Iyo-Nagahama branch | ◇ | Ōzu |
| Yosan Line | U14 | Iyo-Ōzu | 伊予大洲 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 243.2 | ■ Yosan Line (for Uwajima (U14), Iyo-Nagahama (S18)) Some trains through to Uwajima | ◇ | Ōzu |
