Arao Station (荒尾駅, Arao-eki) is a railway station on the Kagoshima Main Line operated by JR Kyushu in Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.[1][2]

Lines

The station is served by the Kagoshima Main Line and is located 151.6 km from the starting point of the line at Mojiko.[3] Both local and rapid services on the line stop at the station.

Layout

The station consists of two island platforms serving four tracks with passing loops to the north and south. The station building is wooden structure of traditional Japanese design with a tiled roof. It houses a staffed ticket window (with a Midori no Madoguchi facility) and a waiting area. Access to the island platforms is by means of a footbridge.[2][3][4]

  • Passing loops run between the station building (left) and the first platform.
    Passing loops run between the station building (left) and the first platform.
  • A view of the station forecourt.
    A view of the station forecourt.

Adjacent stations

← Service →
Kagoshima Main Line
JB  27  Ōmuta Local Minami-Arao
JB  27  Ōmuta Rapid Minami-Arao

History

Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the station with the name Manda (万田) on 1 November 1912 as an additional station on the existing track of the Kagoshima Main Line. On 15 June 1943, the station name was changed to Arao. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, JR Kyushu took over control of the station.[5]

Passenger statistics

In fiscal 2016, the station was used by an average of 1,172 passengers daily (boarding passengers only), and it ranked 143rd among the busiest stations of JR Kyushu.[6]

References

  1. ^ "JR Kyushu Route Map" (PDF). JR Kyushu. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b "荒尾" [Arao]. hacchi-no-he.net. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b Kawashima, Ryōzō (2013). 図説: 日本の鉄道 四国・九州ライン 全線・全駅・全配線・第6巻 熊本 大分 エリア [Japan Railways Illustrated. Shikoku and Kyushu. All lines, all stations, all track layouts. Volume 6 Kumamoto Ōita Area] (in Japanese). Kodansha. pp. 18, 67. ISBN 9784062951654.
  4. ^ "荒尾駅に訪問" [Visit to Arao Station]. Dridorichi's railroad blog. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018. See especially for photographic coverage of station facilities.
  5. ^ Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. II. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 682. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
  6. ^ "駅別乗車人員上位300駅（平成28年度）" [Passengers embarking by station - Top 300 stations (Fiscal 2016)] (PDF). JR Kyushu. 31 July 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2018.


External links