The name Hokusei (北勢) means "northern Mie". It is a kanji abbreviation of "north" (北) and "Ise" (伊勢). Ise (as opposed to "Mie") is used in the name because the northern and central parts of present-day Mie Prefecture were called Ise Province during the Edo era before the modern prefecture system was established.
Services
All services are classified as "Local" (普通, futsū), stopping at every station, and are driver-only operations. There are two services per hour during the day, increased to three per hour during morning and evening peaks.
The section of the line between Ōyamada Station (大山田駅) (present-day Nishi-Kuwana Station) and Sohara was opened on 5 April 1914 by the Hokusei Railway, with services operated using steam haulage.[1] The line was extended to Ageki on 8 July 1931 and electrified at 600 V DC.[1] On 11 February 1944, the line became part of Mie Kotsu (三重交通),[1] and in 1954, the line voltage was increased to 750 V DC.[citation needed]
Kintetsu acquired the line on 1 April 1965, and from 1 April 2003, it was operated by the Sangi Railway.[1]
Narrow gauge
The line uses an especially narrow 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) track gauge. In the early 20th century, many of Japan's local railway lines were built using this gauge, however the vast majority of them were widened in the mid 20th century. Today, only four of these original 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge lines are left operating regular passenger services, of which the Hokusei Line is the longest. This rarity makes the Hokusei Line (as well as the other 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge lines) popular with railway enthusiasts.
