The is a railway line in Kyushu, Japan, operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It connects Yatsushiro on the Kagoshima Main Line to Hayato station, Kirishima on the Nippo Main Line. From 1909 the line was the original rail connection from Yatsushiro to Kagoshima (and via the Kitto Line, Miyazaki) until the Yatsushiro – Kagoshima coastal route via Sendai opened in 1927.
The major part of the line is in the mountainous Kirishima range. No through trains are operated on this line, rather, trains go from Yatsushiro to Hitoyoshi, from Hitoyoshi to Yoshimatsu, and from Yoshimatsu to Hayato. Until 2000, some trains operated direct from Kumamoto to Miyazaki via the Yatsushiro to Yoshimatsu section of the line.
Stations StationDistance(km)ConnectionsLocation 八代0.0YatsushiroKumamoto 段5.2 坂本11.0 葉木14.4 鎌瀬16.8 瀬戸石19.6 海路23.5 Ashikata 吉尾26.7 白石29.8 球泉洞34.9 Kuma 一勝地39.8 那良口42.4 渡45.3 西人吉48.4 Hitoyoshi 人吉51.8Kumagawa Railway Yunomae Line 大畑62.2 矢岳71.7 真幸79.0 EbinoMiyazaki 吉松86.8Kitto Line (Ebino Kōgen Line)YūsuiKagoshima 栗野94.3 大隅横川100.8 Kirishima 植村102.8 霧島温泉106.5 嘉例川112.3 中福良114.4 表木山116.8 日当山121.6 隼人124.2Nippō Main Line
Rolling stock
Current rolling stock , the following rolling stock operates on the line:
KiHa 40 & 47 series DMU KiHa 200 series[ja] DMU
Former rolling stock The SL Hitoyoshi steam locomotive ran on the line until March 23, 2024:
JGR Class 8620 steam locomotive hauling JNR 50 series[ja] passenger cars
History
The entire line was built by the government railways. The Hayato – Yoshimatsu section was opened in 1903, followed by the Yatsushiro – Hitoyoshi section in 1908. When the line names were officially designated in October 1909, the former became a part of the Kagoshima Main Line and the latter the Hitoyoshi Main Line. In November 1910, with the Hitoyoshi – Yoshimatsu section (which included the Okoba switchback and spiral) opening, both sections were connected and the Hitoyoshi Main Line was merged to the Kagoshima Main Line.
In 1927, following the opening of the current 'west coast' Kagoshima Main Line via Sendai, the line was renamed the Hitatsu Line.
Freight services ceased the day the line (and the entire JNR system) was privatised in 1987.
Former connecting lines Kurino station – the Yamano Line junctioned here. The first 24 km section of the Yamano Line was opened to Yamano in 1921. The 14 km Minamata (on the Kagoshima Main Line) – Kugino section opened in 1934, and the 10 km Yamano – Satsuma-Fuke section the following year. In 1937, the 8 km Kugino – Satsuma-Fuke section, including the Okawa spiral opened, connecting the two sections. Freight services ceased in 1986, and the line closed in 1988.
Flood damage Since 4 July 2020, no trains have operated on the 86.8 km section of the line between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu, due to catastrophic damage caused by the 2020 Kyushu floods, including much of the track being completely destroyed, especially in areas where the line runs directly parallel to the Kuma River. Limited taxi replacement services are operating on weekdays only between Yatushiro and Hitoyoshi.
JR Kyushu has not announced a set date for resumption of rail service on this section, apart from stating that services would be suspended for an indefinite period. JR Kyushu's president Toshihiko Aoyagi has stated that the restoration cost can not be determined until agreements have been made amongst local communities, prefectures and the national government, regarding management of the Kuma River. On 17 March 2022, the restoration cost was estimated to be about 23 billion yen.
The citizens' support group Hisatsu Line-again (肥薩線again) are campaigning and raising support and awareness for the line's full restoration and return to service.
From 7 August 2025 to 11 July 2026, no trains operated on the 37.4 km section of the line between Yoshimatsu and Hayato, due to damage caused by heavy rainfall. During that period, limited bus replacement services operated on weekdays only.
Train services on the 37.4 km section between Yoshimatsu and Hayato were originally scheduled to resume on 28 June 2026, however, it was later announced on 22 June of that year that train services on that section would remain suspended as a result of more damage caused by heavy rainfall with repairs estimated to take at least two weeks from the time the new damage occurred. Later as repairs progressed, the section between Yoshimatsu and Hayato resumed service on 12 July 2026.
In popular culture The track section between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu was featured in Microsoft Train Simulator. A Hisatsu Line-based layout is available for the Japanese model train simulator VRM.
References This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
Bibliography Route diagram: pp. 12–14, Vol. 14, October 25, 2006 - JTB Publishing.
External links Hisatsu Line Stations Hisatsu Line-again