The , nicknamed Smile Rail (ã¹ãÂÂã¤ã«ã‹¼ã«), is a Japanese railway line located in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. It operates between in the city of Kitaakita and in the city of Semboku. The Akita Nariku Line is the only railway line operated by the third-sector company .
Trains on the line are operated as "Local" (all-stations), "Rapid", or "Special Rapid", along with the Express Moriyoshi service.
All stations are in Akita Prefecture.
Transfers are available only at Takanosu (JR Ou Main Line) and Kakunodate (JR Tazawako Line and Akita Shinkansen).
On December 10, 1934, the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the connecting Takanosu with over a length of 15.1 kilometers. Following World War II, the JGR became the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and the line was further extended to by October 15, 1963.
On November 1, 1971, the JNR Kakunodate Line began operations from Kakunodate to , with construction continuing north towards Hitachinai to provide a connection to the Aniai Line. However construction was suspended in 1980 due to JNR funding constraints.
The Kakunodate Line was closed by JNR on 11 September 1981, and the Aniai Line on 22 June 1984.
The third-sector Akita Nairiku Jà «kan Railway Company reopened both the Aniai Line â as the Akita Nairiku Kita ("North") Line â and the Kakunodate Line â as the Akita Nairiku Minami ("South") Line â on November 1, 1986. It also recommenced construction of the suspended link which opened on April 1, 1989, creating the current through-route.
Between 2012 and 2017, the line was nicknamed the , referencing the prefecture's beautiful women, known as . On November 1, 2017, the nickname was changed to .