It is not unusual for railroad lines of the same standard and operator to intersect each other. However, such intersections between railroad tracks of different standards of the same operator, or between tracks of different operators, are quite rare these days.
Takahama Line and Loop Line cross at two places
As is the case with roads, when traffic volumes increase, flat crossings hinder smooth passage. As one flow crosses the other, the side being crossed inevitably has to wait. Therefore, it is better to have a multi-level crossing in order to facilitate traffic. The same situation applies to railroads.
While it is not unusual to find such intersections between railroads of the same type, it is extremely rare these days to find a flat intersection between a streetcar and a suburban train. In Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, however, there are two such locations.
In Matsuyama, Iyo Railway operates two different railroad lines along with JR Shikoku.
First, a network of streetcars connects Matsuyama City Station, located in the center of the city, to JR Matsuyama Station, Dogo Onsen, City Hall and the Prefectural Government Office. They are collectively referred to as “city lines.
The other is a network of railroad lines, extending in three directions from Matsuyama City Station. Toward the southeast is the Yokogawara Line, toward the southwest the Koronaka Line, and toward the northwest the Takahama Line. These are collectively guided as “suburban lines. Currently, the trains are operated by the company acquired from Keio Electric Railway Co.
Of these line networks, the City Line, which encircles Matsuyama Castle, passes in front of JR Matsuyama Station at its western end. The Takahama Line runs across the loop of the city line.
Since it crosses, it naturally creates a crossing point. And the Otemachi Station level crossing in the eastern part of JR Matsuyama Station is well known. A train of the city line runs in the center of the wide street, and the Takahama line crosses it at a right angle. Therefore, when the Takahama Line train passes through, people and cars passing on the street, as well as the trains of the city line, have to wait together.
However, while this Otemachi Station level crossing has become famous, the other level crossing to the north of it has not been talked about as much.
The Takahama line crosses the city line and heads north and then northwest. On the other hand, the city line exiting to the west turns north and heads further northeast. Naturally, the two should cross each other once again.
© Source travel watch
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