Ikoma Cable Line

Ikoma Cable Line (Ikoma Cable)
Motorable level crossing at the passing loop of Hōzanji Line
Overview
Native name	生駒鋼索線 (生駒ケーブル)
Owner	Kintetsu Railway
Line number	Y
Locale	Ikoma, Nara, Japan
Termini	Toriimae Ikomasanjo
Stations	5
Color on map	(#B1865B)
Service
Type	Cable railway
System	Kintetsu Railway
Operator(s)	Kintetsu Railway
History
Opened	August 29, 1918 (1918-08-29)
Technical
Line length	2 km (1.2 mi)
Number of tracks	4
Character	Cable railway
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	200 V DC
Operating speed	10.8 km/h (6.7 mph)
Maximum incline	Hōzanji Line: 22.7% Sanjō Line: 33.3%
Route map Hōzanji Line km Ikoma Ikoma, Keihanna and Nara lines 0.0 Toriimae Toriimae Crossing 1 Toriimae Crossing 2 Toriimae Crossing 3 0.9 Hōzanji Sanjō Line 0.9 Hōzanji Hozanji Crossing 1.2 Umeyashiki 1.6 Kasumigaoka Kasumigaoka Crossing 2.0 Ikoma-Sanjō km

The Ikoma Cable Line (生駒鋼索線, Ikoma kōsaku sen), referred to as Ikoma Cable (生駒ケーブル, Ikoma kēburu), is a cable railway line owned and operated by the Kintetsu Railway, a Japanese major private railway. The line connects Toriimae to Ikomasanjo, all of which are within Ikoma, Nara, Japan.

Basic data

• Lines and distances:
  • Hōzanji Line: Toriimae - Hōzanji, 0.9 km (0.6 mi)
  • Sanjō Line: Hōzanji - Ikoma-Sanjō, 1.1 km (0.7 mi)
• Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
• Stations: 5
• Double track line: Toriimae — Hōzanji
  • Quadruple at the passing loop
• Vertical interval:
  • Hōzanji Line: 146 m (479 ft)
  • Sanjō Line: 322 m (1,056 ft)

Overview

The Ikoma Cable Line is actually made up of two different lines; Hōzanji Line (宝山寺線, Hōzanji-sen) between Toriimae and Hōzanji, Sanjō Line (山上線, Sanjō-sen) between Hōzanji and Ikoma-Sanjō. The Hōzanji Line is the oldest commercially operated funicular in Japan, opened in 1918. It runs to Hōzan-ji, a Shingon Buddhist temple. Sanjō Line climbs up Mount Ikoma, reaching Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park.

The Hōzanji Line is the only double-track funicular in the country. However, the two tracks are treated as different lines, called Hōzanji Line 1 (宝山寺1号線, Hōzanji Ichi-gō-sen) and Hōzanji Line 2 (宝山寺2号線, Hōzanji Ni-gō-sen). Normally, only Hōzanji Line 1 and Sanjō Line are used. Hōzanji Line 2 is operated in holiday seasons, and for safety inspections of the Line 1. Since the Hōzanji Line runs along a fairly urbanized area, it also functions as a commuter line. However, the line does not accept PiTaPa, a smart card ticketing system, nor Surutto Kansai, a prepaid magnetic card ticketing system.

In 2021, the line became a Civil Engineering heritage site.

Rolling stock

Hōzanji Line 1 used classical 1928 cars until 2000, when they were replaced by the current fancy-decorated cars. Since then, bulldog-faced "Bull" and calico cat-faced "Mike" serve the line, both officially being Type Ko 11. Sanjō Line uses organ-like "Do-Re-Mi", cake-decorated "Sweet", both officially Type Ko 15. Hōzanji Line 2 uses ordinary-shaped Type Ko 3 cars, nicknamed "Yume-Ikoma".

• 
  "Bull" of Hōzanji Line 1
• 
  "Mike" of Hōzanji Line 1
• 
  "Do-Re-Mi" of Sanjō Line
• 
  "Sweet" of Sanjō Line

Stations

line name	No.	Station name	Japanese	Distance (km)	Direct	Transfers	Location
Hōzanji Line	Y17	Toriimae	鳥居前	0.0		A Kintetsu-Nara Line (Ikoma) (A17) C Keihanna Line (Ikoma) (C27) G Ikoma Line (Ikoma) (G17)	Ikoma	Nara Prefecture
Sanjō Line	Y18	Hōzanji	宝山寺	0.9	●
	Y19	Umeyashiki	梅屋敷	1.2	|
	Y20	Kasumigaoka	霞ヶ丘	1.6	|
	Y21	Ikoma-Sanjo	生駒山上	2.0	●

See also

• Cable car
• Funicular railway
• List of funicular railways
• List of railway lines in Japan
• Mt. Ikoma