Nishi-Kumamoto Station

Railway station in Kumamoto, Japan

Nishi-Kumamoto Station

西熊本駅

The station exterior in April 2016

General information
Location| 1-1-60 Karikusa, Minami-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken 861-4134
Japan
Coordinates| 32°45′46.3″N 130°40′59.0″E﻿ / ﻿32.762861°N 130.683056°E﻿ / 32.762861; 130.683056
Operated by|  JR Kyushu
Line(s)| ■ Kagoshima Main Line
Distance| 3.2 km from Kumamoto
Platforms| 2 side platforms
Tracks| 2
Other information
Status| Unstaffed
Website| www.jrkyushu.co.jp/EkiApp?LISTID=502&EKI=91301215
History
Opened| 26 March 2016 (2016-03-26)
Passengers
Approx. 1,200 per day (forecast)
Location

Nishi-Kumamoto Station

Location within Japan

Nishi-Kumamoto Station (西熊本駅, Nishi-Kumamoto-eki) is a railway station on the Kagoshima Main Line in Kumamoto, Japan, operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It opened on 26 March 2016.[1]

## Lines[edit]

Nishi-Kumamoto Station is served by the Kagoshima Main Line between Mojiko and Kagoshima, and lies 3.2 km south of Kumamoto Station.[2]

## Station layout[edit]

The station is unstaffed, with ticket barriers on the ground floor level, and the platforms on the second floor level. The platforms are approximately 85 m long, able to handle four-car local trains.[3]

* The platforms in June 2016

## Adjacent stations[edit]

« | Service  | »

|
|

Kagoshima Main Line
Rapid: Does not stop at this station
Kumamoto |  | Local  |  | Kawashiri

## History[edit]

A public ballot for the new station name was held between February and March, with the name "Nishi-Kumamoto" officially announced by JR Kyushu on 23 July 2015.[4] Other names suggested in the ballot included Shimo-Kumamoto Station (下熊本駅, lit. "Lower Kumamoto Station"), Chikami Station (近見駅), and Karikusa Station (刈草駅).[4] The total cost of building the station is approximately 1.25 billion yen, funded by the city of Kumamoto, with 380 million yen funded by a national grant.[4]

## Passenger statistics[edit]

According to Kumamoto city forecasts, approximately 1,200 passengers are expected to use the station daily.[4]

## Surrounding area[edit]

* Aeon Town Nishi-Kumamoto shopping mall[2]
* Rikigo Junior High School[5]
* National Route 3
* National Route 57

## See also[edit]

* List of railway stations in Japan

## References[edit]

1. ^ 平成28年春ダイヤ改正 [Spring 2016 timetable revision] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Kyushu Railway Company. 18 December 2015. p. 8. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
2. ^ a b JR九州「西熊本駅」鹿児島本線熊本～川尻間新駅の駅名決定 - 2016年春開業 [JR Kyushu announces name of new station between Kumamoto and Kawashiri on Kagoshima Main Line]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
3. ^ ＪＲ九州、熊本―川尻間の新駅名は「西熊本」 [New JR station between Kumamoto and Kawashiri to be named Nishi-Kumamoto]. Nikkei Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: Nikkei Inc. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
4. ^ a b c d ＪＲ新駅名称は「西熊本駅」 熊本－川尻間 [New JR station to be named Nishi-Kumamoto, between Kumamoto and Kawashiri]. Kumanichi.com (in Japanese). Japan: Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
5. ^ "Rikigo Junior High School". Rikigo Junior High School official website (in Japanese). Japan. Retrieved 28 July 2015.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nishi-Kumamoto Station.

* JR Kyushu station information (in Japanese)
* July 2015 news release (in Japanese)