# Tōkai Transport Service Jōhoku Line

The Jōhoku Line (城北線, Jōhoku-sen) is a Japanese commuter rail line between Kachigawa Station in Kasugai and Biwajima Station in Kiyosu, in Aichi Prefecture. Trains are operated by JR-Central Transport Service Company, or TKJ in short, a wholly owned subsidiary of JR Central. While TKJ operates the line, the rail facilities belong to its parent company JR Central. Since the electrification of Taketoyo Line in 2015, it is the only railway line in Aichi Prefecture to not be electrified.

## History

The line was originally planned by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in the 1960s as a freight-only line linking the Chuo Main Line at Kachigawa with the Tokaido Main Line at Biwajima. Construction began in March 1976, but was subsequently halted due to the huge deficit of JNR. The line consisted of two separate sections, one between Setoshi and Kōzōji, and another between Kachigawa and Biwajima. Construction of both sections resumed later, as passenger lines, but by different operators. The former section, the current Johoku Line, was succeeded by Tokai Transport Service, while the latter, the current Jōhoku Line, was succeeded by JR Central and TKJ. The first section of the Jōhoku Line, between Kachigawa and Owari-Hoshinomiya, opened on 1 December 1991. The section between Owari-Hoshinomiya and Biwajima opened on 18 March 1993.

## Services

All trains stop at all stations, and there are no limited stop rapid services. Services operate once per hour in the daytime, and 2 or 3 times per hour in the morning and evening. Travel time is 16 minutes toward Biwajima and 17 minutes toward Kachigawa.

## Fares and ticketing

Despite being a subsidiary of JR Central, the Jōhoku Line has its own separate fare scale and does not accept the Japan Rail Pass or any other JR ticket or pass. Single ride fares are either 230, 320 390, or 450 yen for adults, and 120, 160, 200, or 230 yen for children and can be purchased using cash from the JR ticket machines at Kachigawa and Biwajima Stations or onboard the train. IC cards, such as TOICA, manaca, and Suica, are not accepted on the Johoku Line.
Commuter passes (1/3/6 months) and coupon tickets (11 tickets for the price of 10) can be purchased from the JR ticket machines at Kachigawa and Biwajima Stations (for travel to/from those stations) or at the Jōhoku Line Ticket Office (near Otai Station) for other stations.

## Stations

All stations are in Aichi Prefecture.
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location |
| Kachigawa | 勝川 | - | Chūō Main Line | Kasugai |
| Ajiyoshi | 味美 | 1.8 | | Kasugai |
| Hira | 比良 | 2.7 | | Nishi-ku, Nagoya |
| Otai | 小田井 | 2.2 | Nagoya Subway Tsurumai Line (Kami-Otai T01)‡  IY Meitetsu Inuyama Line (Kami-Otai )‡ | Nishi-ku, Nagoya |
| Owari-Hoshinomiya | 尾張星の宮 | 2.6 | | Kiyosu |
| Biwajima | 枇杷島 | 1.9 | Tōkaidō Main Line | Kiyosu |
‡ Kami-Otai Station is 500 m (1,600 ft), approximately 7 minute walk from Otai Station.

### Passenger statistics

Reference:
| Station | Passengers (2022) |
| Kachigawa | 490 |
| Owari-Hoshinomiya | 463 |
| Otai | 387 |
| Ajiyoshi | 239 |
| Hira | 218 |
| Biwajima | No data |

## Rolling stock

The line is operated using a fleet of four KiHa 11 single-car diesel multiple unit DMUs.
When the line first opened, services were operated using KiHa 40 series single-car DMUs leased from JR Central. These were painted in the TJK livery of cream with an orange window band.
Up until April 2015, the fleet consisted of four KiHa 11-200 series cars (KiHa 11-201–204), based at Kachigawa Depot. Two of these (KiHa 11-203 and 204) were sold to the Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway in Ibaraki Prefecture in April 2015. KiHa 11-201 was withdrawn from Johoku Line services on 23 September 2015, and sold to the Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway. It was replaced on 24 September 2015 by KiHa 11-300 series car KiHa 11-301, purchased from JR Central. The remaining KiHa 11-200 series car (KiHa 11-202) was scheduled to be replaced by a KiHa 11-300 series car in 2016.
* A KiHa 11-200 series car in August 2006
* KiHa 11-301 in service in December 2015