Akamizu Station

Akamizu Station (赤水駅, Akamizu-eki) is a passenger railway station located in the city of Aso, Kumamoto, Japan. It Is operated by JR Kyushu.^[1][2]

Akamizu Station 赤水駅
Akamizu Station in 2020
General information
Location	Akamizu, Aso-shi, Kumamoto-ken 869-2232 Japan
Coordinates	32°54′48″N 130°59′35″E
Operated by	JR Kyushu
Line(s)	■ Hōhi Main Line
Distance	40.2 km from Kumamoto
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2 + 1 siding
Construction
Structure type	At grade
Other information
Status	Unstaffed
Website	Official website
History
Opened	25 January 1918 (1918-01-25)
Services
Preceding station JR Kyushu Following station Tateno towards Kumamoto Hōhi Main Line Ichinokawa towards Ōita
Location Akamizu Station Location within Kumamoto Prefecture Show map of Kumamoto Prefecture Akamizu Station Akamizu Station (Japan) Show map of Japan

Lines

The station is served by the Hōhi Main Line and is located 40.2 km from the starting point of the line at Kumamoto.^[3]

Layout

The station consists of an island platform serving two tracks at grade with a siding. The platform is accessed by a level crossing. The station building was a wooden structure of traditional Japanese design with a red tiled roof and housed a ticket window and a waiting room. This was damaged by earthquake in 2016 and has since been demolished.^[2][3]

Platforms

1	■ ■ Hōhi Main Line	for Kumamoto
2	■ ■ Hōhi Main Line	for Aso and Oita

• 
  Akamizu Station in 2006, before it had been damaged by earthquake
• 
  Akamizu one 1 year after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes

History

Railway carriage stuck near Akamizu station shortly after the 2016 earthquakes

On 21 June 1914, Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the Miyaji Light Rail Line (宮地軽便線) (later the Miyagi Line) from Kumamoto eastwards to Higo-Ōzu. The line was extended eastward in phases and Miyaji was established as the eastern terminal on 25 January 1918. On the same day, Akamizu was opened as an intermediate station on the new track. On 2 December 1928, Miyaji was linked up with Tamarai, the western terminus of the Inukai Line (犬飼線), which had been extended westwards in phases from Ōita since 1914. Through-traffic was established between Kumamoto and Ōita. The two lines were merged and the entire stretch redesignated as the Hōhi Main Line. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, Akamizu station came under the control of JR Kyushu.^[4][5]

Because of track damage from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, service between Higo-Ōzu to Bungo-Ogi was suspended from April 2016. Service between Aso and Bungo-Ogi was restored by 9 July 2016.^[6] The station building at Akamizu was heavily damaged. JR Kyushu declared that the structure was old and unsafe and had it demolished in November 2016.^[7][8] The sector between Higo-Ōzu and Aso remained closed. JR Kyushu commenced the repair work, starting first with the track from Higo-Ōzu to Tateno.^[9] On 8 August 2020, JR Kyushu reopened the Higo-Ōzu to Aso section of the line, permitting access between Aso and Kumamoto.^[10]

Surrounding area

• Akamizu Post Office
• Aso Akamizu Onsen
• Aso Farm Land

See also

• List of railway stations in Japan

References

1. "JR Kyushu Route Map" (PDF). JR Kyushu. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
2. "赤水" [Akamizu]. hacchi-no-he.net. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
3. Kawashima, Ryōzō (2013). 図説: 日本の鉄道 四国・九州ライン 全線・全駅・全配線・第6巻 熊本 大分 エリア [Japan Railways Illustrated. Shikoku and Kyushu. All lines, all stations, all track layouts. Volume 6 Kumamoto Ōita Area] (in Japanese). Kodansha. pp. 36, 78. ISBN 9784062951654.
4. Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 228. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
5. Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. II. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 745. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
6. "豊肥線 阿蘇〜豊後萩間で運行再開 九州横断特急が出発" [Hōhi Line Aso - Bungo-Ogi traffic to reopen. Kyushu Crossing Express to recommence.]. Kumamoto Prefecture Television Company website. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
7. "JR九州、平成28年熊本地震で被害を受けた豊肥本線の復旧工事に4月着手" [JR Kyushu Restoration work commences in April on Hōhi Main Line track damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake]. Travel Watch. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
8. "内牧・赤水駅舎取り壊し、熊本地震で損傷" [Uchinomaki, Akamizu station buildings to be demolished, damaged by Kumamoto earthquake]. Yomiuri Shimbun. 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
9. "JR九州、平成28年熊本地震で被害を受けた豊肥本線の復旧工事に4月着手" [JR Kyushu Restoration work commences in April on Hōhi Main Line track damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake]. Travel Watch. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
10. "Hohi Main Line will be completely resumed!" (PDF). 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.

External links

Media related to Akamizu Station at Wikimedia Commons

• Akamizu (JR Kyushu)(in Japanese)