Kashima Line

Kashima Line
Kashima Line 113 series EMU
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Chiba Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture
Termini	Katori Kashima Soccer Stadium
Stations	6
Operation
Opened	1970
Owner	JR East
Operator(s)	JR East, JR Freight
Technical
Line length	17.4 km (10.8 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary

The Kashima Line (鹿島線, Kashima-sen^?) is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Katori Station with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station, by crossing and then following the Tone River, the border between Chiba Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture.

Katori Station is in Narita Line, and all trains of Kashima Line run through from/to the neighbor station, Sawara Station, or beyond it, but all trains terminate at Kashima-Jingū Station. Only Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line trains run from here to Kashima Soccer Stadium and Mito Station. Kashima Soccer Stadium Station is only operated temporarily when football matches are held at Kashima Soccer Stadium, the home stadium of Kashima Antlers in J.League (Japan Professional Football League).

From Sawara to Kashima Jingu, JR East local electric trains run approximately once per 1–2 hours. Some trains run beyond Sawara, to Narita Station or Chiba Station. The Limited Express Ayame service runs between Tokyo Station and Kashima Jingu once in a day, from Kashima Jingu in every morning, from Tokyo in every night. It operates as an all-stations "Local" train over the Kashima Line. From Kashima-Jingū and Mito, Oarai Kashima Line local or rapid diesel trains run approximately once an hour. Normally, no passenger train stops at Kashima Soccer Stadium, except when football matches are played in the stadium.