Shintetsu Ao Line

Shintetsu Ao Line
1500 series EMU on the 50 per mil gradient between Omura and Kashiyama, April 2011
Overview
Native name	粟生線
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Hyōgo Prefecture
Termini	Suzurandai Ao
Operation
Opened	28 December 1936
Owner	Kobe Electric Railway
Technical
Line length	29.2 km (18.1 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC
Operating speed	70 km/h (45 mph)

The Ao Line (粟生線, Ao-sen^?) is a commuter railway line in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, operated by the Kobe Electric Railway (Shintetsu). It connects Kobe with its northwestern suburb, Ono. The line is 29.2 km (18.1 mi) long, extending from Suzurandai in Kita-ku to Ao, where the line connects with the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) Kakogawa Line, although all trains continue past Suzurandai to Shinkaichi via the Shintetsu Arima Line and Kobe Rapid Railway Namboku Line.

The Miki Electric Railway Co. opened the Suzurandai - Hirono Golf-jo-mae on 28 December 1936. DMUs operated until the section was electified the following year and extended to Miki Uenomaru, with the extension to Miki opening in 1938.

In 1947 the company merged with the Kobe Electric Railway Co., which extended the line to Ono on 28 December 1951, and from Ono to Ao on 10 April 1952.

The Nishi-Suzurandai - Aina section was duplicated in 1982, and the Kizu - Oshibedani section was duplicated between 1979 and 1989.