Japanese Railway Scenery 23
JR Shikoku: Tokushima Line
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Japan Railway & Transport Review No. 30 (Back cover)
Japanese Railway Scenery 23 |
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Westbound two-car DMU limited express on JR Shikoku's Tokushima Line near Anabuki
Station. The eastern half of the line was opened in 1900 as the private Tokushima Railway,
but was nationalized in 1907 and reached Awa Ikeda in 1914. The 75-km single track
between Tokushima and Awa Ikeda runs along the Yoshinogawa valley, one of Japan's largest
rivers. The narrow flood plain had rich fields of indigo, but the invention of substitute
chemical dyes in Europe hit the indigo farmers severely in the early 20th century. The line
suffers from low traffic except for commuters near Tokushima City, but JR Shikoku runs six
daily limited expresses in each direction. (Photo: M. Mashima Photo Office) |