JR Kyushu Opens Nichinan Line Extension to Shibushi

The Nichinan Line, running along the southeastern coast of Kyushu, received an important expansion on December 15, 1985, when Japanese National Railways opened the final extension to Shibushi. This project unified previously disconnected regional rail segments and improved transportation links in Miyazaki Prefecture, an area reliant on rail for both tourism and local industry. The extension allowed through‑running service from Miyazaki to Shibushi, reducing travel times and facilitating economic development across smaller coastal towns. Although many rural lines in Japan faced declining ridership in the late JNR era, the Nichinan Line remained an important regional connector and later came under JR Kyushu management after the 1987 privatization. The 1985 extension represented one of the last significant rural expansion projects completed by JNR before restructuring.