The Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line (鹿島臨海鉄道大洗鹿島線, Kashima Rinkai Tetsudō Ōarai Kashima-sen) is a 53.0 km Japanese railway line in Ibaraki Prefecture, which connects Mito Station in Mito with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station in Kashima. It is owned and run by the third-sector railway operating company Kashima Rinkai Railway (KRT).
As of 1 April 2017[update], passenger services on the line were operated by a fleet of 15 6000 series diesel railcars and three 8000 series diesel railcars.[1] The railway also operates three diesel locomotives: Class KRD locomotive number KRD 5 and two Class KRD64 locomotives, KRD64-1 and KRD64-2.[1]
The first 8000 series diesel car, 8001, entered revenue service on 26 March 2016.[1]
The individual car histories of the 6000 series fleet are as follows.[2]
The individual car histories of the 8000 series fleet are as follows.[2]
The following types also previously operated on the line.
The individual car histories of the 2000 series fleet were as follows.[2]
The individual car histories of the two-car 7000 series set were as follows.[2]
The line opened on 14 March 1985 between Mito and Kita-Kashima (now Kashima Soccer Stadium) stations.[4]
Freight operations over the line commenced from 1 November 1989, but were discontinued from 16 March 1996.[4]
Wanman driver-only operation began on the line from 1 April 2001.[4]