Chikko Line

The line originated with the Aichi Electric Railway, which was granted a railway licence on 8 June 1920 and opened the route on 15 January 1924 between Ōe and Nishi-rokugō (the station that is now Higashi Nagoyakō), electrifying it at 1,500 V DC from the outset.

On 30 January 1932 two stations were renamed, Higashi-rokugō becoming Aiden Chikkō and Nishi-rokugō becoming Higashi Nagoyakō. Aiden Chikkō was itself renamed Meiden Chikkō on 1 December 1938. On 16 October 1939 passenger services at Meiden Chikkō were discontinued and the line was double-tracked.

On 26 September 1959 the line was cut by Typhoon Vera (the Isewan Typhoon), and when services resumed on 12 October 1959 the route was restored as a single track rather than rebuilt as double. In 1965 the outer sidings serving the No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9 blocks were transferred to the newly formed Nagoya Rinkai Railway. The Chikkō Line itself had long handled substantial freight traffic, but its freight services ceased in 1984.

Between 1991 and 2004 a test track for maglev trains ran alongside the line; it was removed after Linimo opened. At Meiden Chikkō, between the line's two stations, there is a connection to the freight-only Tōchiku Line of the Nagoya Rinkai Railway, linking Meitetsu's passenger branch to the industrial rail network of the port.

Regular trains run only in the morning and evening. A timetable revision on 27 March 2003 cut trains to two cars; Tranpass ticketing came into use on 15 January 2005; trains were lengthened to four cars on 3 October 2009; one-man (driver-only) operation started on 26 March 2011; and extra irregular trains were added in 2013 and 2020. The timetable revision of 16 March 2024 reduced the line to two-car trains again, and two-car sets, including the 9100 series, replaced the 5000 series previously used.

2 stations tracked on the map, listed alphabetically. Select any to read its page.

• Higashi Nagoyako東名古屋港
• Oe (Aichi)大江

• 19208 June: the Aichi Electric Railway is granted a railway licence for the line.
• 192415 January: the line opens between Ōe and Nishi-rokugō (now Higashi Nagoyakō), electrified at 1,500 V DC, built by the Aichi Electric Railway to serve Nagoya Port.
• 193230 January: stations are renamed — Higashi-rokugō becomes Aiden Chikkō and Nishi-rokugō becomes Higashi Nagoyakō.
• 19381 December: Aiden Chikkō Station is renamed Meiden Chikkō.
• 193916 October: passenger service at Meiden Chikkō is discontinued and the line is double-tracked.
• 195926 September: the line is cut by Typhoon Vera (the Isewan Typhoon); when service resumes on 12 October it is restored as a single track rather than rebuilt as double.
• 1965The outer sidings serving the No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9 blocks are transferred to the newly formed Nagoya Rinkai Railway.
• 1984Freight services on the line, once numerous, are discontinued.
• 199025 November: the operating distance to Higashi Nagoyakō Station is shortened by 0.4 km.
• 1991A test track for maglev trains begins running alongside the line; it operates until 2004 and is removed after Linimo opens.
• 200327 March: a timetable revision reduces trains to two cars.
• 200515 January: the Tranpass ticketing system enters service on the line.
• 20093 October: a timetable revision lengthens trains to four cars.
• 201126 March: one-man (driver-only) operation begins.
• 20207 May: irregular (non-scheduled) extra trains are added.
• 202416 March: a timetable revision reduces trains to two cars again; two-car sets, including the 9100 series, replace the 5000 series sets used until then.