Ōarai Kashima Line

The Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line (鹿島臨海鉄道大洗鹿島線, Kashima Rinkai Tetsudō Ōarai Kashima-sen) is a 53.0 km Japanese railway line in Ibaraki Prefecture, which connects Mito Station in Mito with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station in Kashima. It is owned and run by the third-sector railway operating company Kashima Rinkai Railway (KRT).

Ōarai Kashima Line
A Kashima Rinkai Railway 6000 series diesel railcar in August 2007
Overview
Native name	鹿島臨海鉄道大洗鹿島線
Status	In operation
Owner	Kashima Rinkai Railway
Locale	Ibaraki Prefecture
Termini	Mito Kashima Soccer Stadium
Stations	15
Service
Operator(s)	Kashima Rinkai Railway
Depot(s)	None
Rolling stock	6000 series DMU, 8000 series DMU, KRD series diesel locomotive
History
Opened	14 March 1985
Technical
Line length	53.0 km (32.9 mi)
Number of tracks	Entire line single tracked
Character	Rural and urban
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Minimum radius	500 m
Electrification	None
Operating speed	95 km/h (59 mph)

Stations

Line	Station	Japanese	Between (km)	Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
Ōarai Kashima	Mito	水戸	-	0.0	Jōban Line Suigun Line	Mito
	Higashi-Mito	東水戸	3.8	3.8
	Tsunezumi	常澄	4.5	8.3
	Ōarai	大洗	3.3	11.6		Ōarai
	Hinuma	涸沼	6.4	18.0		Hokota
	Kashima-Asahi	鹿島旭	4.8	22.8
	Tokushuku	徳宿	3.9	26.7
	Shin-Hokota	新鉾田	4.3	31.0
	Kitaurakohan	北浦湖畔	3.9	34.9
	Taiyō	大洋	4.1	39.0
	Kashimanada	鹿島灘	4.1	43.1		Kashima
	Kashima-Ōno	鹿島大野	3.0	46.1
	Chōjagahamashiosaihamanasukōenmae	長者ヶ浜潮騒はまなす公園前	2.3	48.4
	Kōyadai	荒野台	1.7	50.1
	Kashima Soccer Stadium	鹿島サッカースタジアム	2.9	53.0	Kashima Rinkō Line
Kashima Line
	Kashima-Jingū	鹿島神宮	3.2	-	Kashima Line

Rolling stock

As of 1 April 2017^[update], passenger services on the line were operated by a fleet of 15 6000 series diesel railcars and three 8000 series diesel railcars.^[1] The railway also operates three diesel locomotives: Class KRD locomotive number KRD 5 and two Class KRD64 locomotives, KRD64-1 and KRD64-2.^[1]

The first 8000 series diesel car, 8001, entered revenue service on 26 March 2016.^[1]

• 
  A 6000 series DMU car in February 2007
• 
  8000 series car 8001 in January 2017
• 
  KRD 5 in service in November 2008

6000 series fleet details

The individual car histories of the 6000 series fleet are as follows.^[2]

Car No.	Manufacturer	Date delivered	Date withdrawn
6001	Nippon Sharyo	14 January 1985
6002		14 January 1985	7 January 2017[1]
6003		14 January 1985
6004		14 January 1985
6005		14 January 1985
6006		14 January 1985
6007		28 February 1987
6008		28 February 1987	28 March 2016
6009		25 August 1989
6010		25 August 1989
6011		25 August 1989
6012		25 August 1989	28 March 2016
6013		1 September 1990
6014		1 September 1990
6015		1 September 1990
6016		13 July 1992
6017		13 July 1992
6018		30 March 1994
6019		30 March 1994	7 January 2017[1]

8000 series fleet details

The individual car histories of the 8000 series fleet are as follows.^[2]

Car No.	Manufacturer	Date delivered	Date withdrawn
8001	Niigata Transys	16 February 2016
8002		7 January 2017
8003		7 January 2017

Former rolling stock

The following types also previously operated on the line.

• 2000 series DMU cars 2001 to 2004 (former JNR KiHa 20 series cars, operated from December 1985 until December 1991)^[2]
• 7000 series two-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) train owned by Ibaraki Prefecture and reserved for special event services.^[3] (Operated from 1992 until October 2015)^[2]

• 
  A former Kashima Rinkai Railway 2000 series car in its later guise as Ibaraki Kotsu 200 series car 201 in March 2003
• 
  The 7000 series DMU in service in June 2007

2000 series fleet details

The individual car histories of the 2000 series fleet were as follows.^[2]

Car No.	Manufacturer	Built	Former number	Date introduced	Date withdrawn
2001	Nippon Sharyo	January 1961	KiHa 20 429	18 December 1985	29 December 1991
2002	Teikoku Sharyo	May 1961	KiHa 20 421	18 December 1985	23 December 1989
2003	Tokyu Car	February 1960	KiHa 20 274	25 December 1985	12 October 1990
2004	Tokyu Car	April 1959	KiHa 20 273	25 December 1985	29 December 1991

7000 series fleet details

The individual car histories of the two-car 7000 series set were as follows.^[2]

Car No.	Manufacturer	Date delivered	Date withdrawn
7001	Nippon Sharyo	13 July 1992	24 October 2015
7002

History

The line opened on 14 March 1985 between Mito and Kita-Kashima (now Kashima Soccer Stadium) stations.^[4]

Freight operations over the line commenced from 1 November 1989, but were discontinued from 16 March 1996.^[4]

Wanman driver-only operation began on the line from 1 April 2001.^[4]