is a railway station located in the city of

Niihama 270px, Niihama City Hall 270px, Aerial View of Central Niihama is a city located in the eastern part of Ehime Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 115,824 in 57781 households and a population density of 490 persons per ...

, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "Y29".It is also a freight depot for the Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight).

Lines

Niihama Stationis served by the JR Shikoku Yosan Line and is located 103.1 km from the beginning of the line at Takamatsu. Yosan line local trains which serve this station ply the - sector. Passengers on local services continuing eastwards or westwards have to change trains. The ''Rapid Sunport'', and ''Nanpū Relay'' local trains serve this station and provide a through service to . In addition, the following JR Shikoku limited express services also serve the station: *'' Shiokaze'' - from to and *'' Ishizuchi'' - from to and *''Midnight Express Takamatsu'' - in one direction only, from to *''Morning Express Takamatsu'' - in one direction only, from to *''Midnight Express Matsuyama'' - in one direction only, from and ends here *''Morning Express Matsuyama'' - in one direction only, starts here for

Layout

The station consists of an island platform and a side platform serving three tracks. The station building houses a waiting room, shops, a JR '' Midori no Madoguchi'' ticket window and a JR Travel Centre (Warp Plaza). Car parking and rental are available. The island platform is reached by means of a bridge equipped with elevators for barrier-free access. Numerous sidings and passing loops branch off on the south side of the station serving a freight container platform and freight yard. File:Niihama station home.JPG, A view of the side and island platform in 2011. To the right is a freight train on a passing siding. File:Niihama Goods Station.jpg, To the left is the island platform with a freight train. Next to it can be seen two passing sidings, the rightmost one served by the container platform. This photo was taken in 2012. File:JR Niihama Station 20150503 (17304120469).jpg, Niihama Station in 2015. To the right can be seen the North-South free passage, an elevator equipped bridge which allows pedestrians to cross the tracks.

Adjacent stations

History

Niihama Station opened on 21 June 1921 as an intermediate stop when the then Sanuki Line was extended westwards from to . At that time the station was operated by Japanese Government Railways, later becoming Japanese National Railways (JNR). With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, control of the station passed to JR Shikoku and JR Freight. On 25 September 2017, JR Shikoku completed a barrier-free upgrade project for the station. The existing footbridge linking the platforms was replaced by a new bridge equipped with elevators.

Surrounding area

* - a bridge equipped with elevators which crosses the tracks, allowing access to parts of the town north and south of the station. The bridge opened on 1 February 2014 and was part of a municipal project to upgrade the area surrounding the station with plazas and parking lots.

References

External links

}
Niihama Station (JR Shikoku)
{{Yosan Line Railway stations in Ehime Prefecture Railway stations in Japan opened in 1921 Niihama, Ehime Stations of Japan Freight Railway Company