Hakataminami Line
| Hakataminami Line | |
|---|---|
700 series train on the Hakataminami Line, June 2004 | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | 博多南線 |
| Owner | JR West |
| Locale | Fukuoka City |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 2 |
| Color on map | Blue |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | Shinkansen |
| Services | Kodama shuttle |
| Operator(s) | JR West |
| Depot(s) | Hakata |
| Rolling stock | 500, 700 and N700 series |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 April 1990 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 8.5 km (5.3 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | Overhead line, 25 kV 60 Hz AC |
| Operating speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Signalling | Cab signalling |
| Train protection system | ATC-NS |
The Hakataminami Line (Japanese: 博多南線, Hepburn: Hakataminami-sen) is an 8.5-kilometre (5.3 mi) railway line in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, connecting Hakata Station in Fukuoka with Hakataminami Station in Kasuga. It is operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
The line was originally built by Japanese National Railways (JNR) to shuttle San'yō Shinkansen trains from the Hakata terminal to the Hakata Shinkansen Depot in Kasuga for storage and maintenance. At the time, Kasuga was a rural area, and JNR did not consider a station necessary. By the late 1980s, the area had developed into a suburb of Fukuoka, and JR West constructed Hakataminami Station adjacent to the depot. Service began on 1 April 1990.
Although the line uses Shinkansen rolling stock, it is not officially designated as a Shinkansen or mini-Shinkansen line. Most services are Kodama trains entering or leaving service on the San'yō Shinkansen.