Ōarai-Kashima Line

Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line
A Kashima Rinkai Railway 6000 series diesel railcar in August 2007
Overview
Native name	鹿島臨海鉄道大洗鹿島線
Locale	Ibaraki Prefecture
Termini	Mito Kashima Soccer Stadium
Operation
Opened	14 March 1985
Owner	Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo
Depot(s)	None
Technical
Line length	53.0 km (32.9 mi)
Number of tracks	Single
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Minimum radius	500 m
Electrification	None
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)

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 Tetsudo (KRT).

As of 1 April 2015^[update], passenger services on the line were operated by a fleet of 19 6000 series diesel railcars, numbered 6001 to 6019, as well as a two-car 7000 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) train owned by Ibaraki Prefecture and reserved for special event services. The railway also operates three diesel locomotives: Class KRD locomotive number KRD 5 and two Class KRD64 locomotives, KRD64-1 and KRD64-2.

A 6000 series DMU car in February 2007

The 7000 series DMU in service in June 2007

KRD 5 in service in November 2008

The first of a new fleet of 8000 series diesel cars was scheduled to be introduced on the line, replacing the 6000 series cars, with the first unit due to enter revenue service from 26 March 2016.

The line opened on 14 March 1985 between Mito and Kita-Kashima (now Kashima Soccer Stadium) stations.

Freight operations over the line commenced from 1 November 1989, but were discontinued from 16 March 1996.

Wanman driver-only operation began on the line from 1 April 2001.