Asatō Line

Asatō Line
Dual-mode vehicles operated on the Asato Line since 2021, based on Toyota Coaster
Overview
Native name阿佐東線
StatusOperational
OwnerAsa Coast Railway Company
LocaleTokushima Prefecture and Kochi Prefecture
Termini
Stations4 (railway)
Websitehttps://asatetu.com/
Service
TypeRegional railBus
Operator(s)Asa Coast Railway Company
Rolling stockDMV93
History
Opened26 March 1992
Technical
Line length10.0 km (6.2 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

Awa-Kainan Culture Village
DMV bus mode section (since 2021)
Mugi Line towards Tokushima
Awa Kainan Station / Station Stop
0.0
Awa-Kainan Signal Station (since 2021)
Shihohara Tunnel
Kaifu River
Chōnai Tunnel
1.4
Kaifu Station
15 tunnels
Roadside Station Shishikui Onsen
7.5
Shishikui Station
Shishikui River
Storage yard
4th Shishikui Tunnel
Tokushima Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
9.9
Kannoura Station (pre-2020)
10.0
Kannoura Signal Station (since 2021)
Kannoura Station Stop
DMV bus mode section (since 2021)
Sea Station Toyocho
To Seaside Station Toromu
Key
Railroad track
Roadway section

The Asatō Line (阿佐東線, Asatō-sen; lit.'Asa East Line') is a Japanese railway line connecting Kaifu Station, Kaiyō and Kannoura Station, Tōyō. Together with JR Shikoku's Mugi Line, it has the official nickname Awa Muroto Seaside Line (阿波室戸シーサイドライン, Awa Muroto Shīsaido Rain). This is the only railway line operated by Asa Coast Railway Company (阿佐海岸鉄道株式会社, Asa Kaigan Tetsudō kabushiki-gaisha). The company's name is abbreviated to the portmanteau Asatetsu (阿佐鉄). Since the line goes through a relatively sparsely populated area, it is under severe business stress, to the point where closure of the line has been proposed.

The railway company commenced operating road–rail vehicles, known as DMV (dual-mode vehicle) in Japan, on the Asato Line from 25 December 2021.

The vehicles used are 3 extensively modified Toyota Coaster minibuses, claimed to be the first in the world, which enable through service to locations without rail infrastructure. The vehicles are classed as DMV93 type.

In preparation, the rail line was disconnected from the Mugi Line in summer 2019.