The was a railway line most recently operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) in Hokkaidà Â, Japan. The 148.9 kilometres line connected from Otoineppu to Minami-Wakkanai via Nakatonbetsu, Hamatonbetsu and Sarufutsu until its closure in 1989. This railway line was named after Teshio Province and Kitami Province.
The line got its name to the two former provinces that it went through: Teshio (天塩) and Kitami (Ã¥ÂÂè¦Â). The first character of Teshio (天) can also be read as "ten", and the first character of Kitami (Ã¥ÂÂ) can also be read as "hoku". By Japanese orthography, putting "ten" and "hoku" together makes "Tempoku".
The first section from Otoineppu to Shà Â-Tombetsu was opened in 1914. All section was opened in 1922, as the first railway line for Wakkanai. In 1926, Teshio line via Horonobe was opened. From Otoineppu to Wakkanai, the distance of this line was longer than Teshio line. In 1930, Teshio line was integrated into Sà Âya Main Line, and this line was separated from it and renamed Kitami line.
In 1961, Kitami line was renamed to Tempoku line. In 1987, JNR was privatized, and this line was inherited by JR Hokkaido, but abandoned on 1 May 1989.
Soya Bus (Belong to Tokyu Group until 1999) have altered the Tenpoku Line since 1989. But the altered line was partly discontinued in 2011.