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mizushima rinkai railway ky j mae station 2015 9
The Mizushima Rinkai Railway (水島臨海鉄道, Mizushima Rinkai Tetsudō, "Mizushima Seaside Railway") is a third-sector railway company based in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. The company took over operation of three former Kurashiki City Transportation Bureau lines in 1970. It mainly transports freight for the industrial area around the Port of Mizushima, but also operates a passenger service.
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mizushima rinkai railway
Rolling stock
As of 1 April 2016, the railway operates a fleet of 12 diesel railcars and three diesel locomotives.
Diesel multiple units
In 2013, the company purchased six former KiHa 30, KiHa 37, and KiHa 38 diesel multiple unit (DMU) cars, which formerly operated on the JR East Kururi Line in Chiba Prefecture until they were withdrawn in December 2012. These entered service from 12 May 2014.
The KiHa 20 diesel car KiHa 205 is scheduled to be withdrawn following its last day in service on 19 March 2017.
Diesel locomotives
History
The 11.2 km Mizushima Main Line (水島本線) between Kurashikishi, Mitsubishi-Jikō-Mae, and Kurashiki Freight Terminal opened in 1943 to serve an aircraft factory. In 1947, the line was transferred to the city of Mizushima for industrial development, and a passenger service between Kurashiki and Mizushima commenced the following year.
The 3.6 km freight-only Kōtō Line (港東線) between Mizushima and Higashi-Mizushima, and the 0.8 km freight-only Nishi-Futō Line (西埠頭線) between Mitsubishi-Jikō-Mae and Nishi-Futō both opened in 1962.
CTC signalling was commissioned between Kurashiki and Mizushima in 1971, and the passenger service was extended to Mitsubishi-Jikō-Mae the following year.