is a Japanese third-sector railway that connects Hyōgo, Okayama and Tottori prefectures. Chizu Express operates one line, the Chizu Line.
Unlike the majority of third-sector railway companies which operate at a loss, Chizu Express makes a profit due to the track access fees paid by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) to use the Chizu Line for its Limited Express trains Super Hakuto and Super Inaba. Net profit after tax for the 2024-2025 financial year was ¥263,580,481.
Chizu Express Chizu Line
The Chizu Line connects Kamigōri Station in Kamigōri, Hyōgo Prefecture and Chizu Station in Chizu, Tottori Prefecture.
The Chizu Line is not electrified, but is a high-grade railroad with an operating speed of . JR West Limited Express services Super Hakuto and Super Inaba operate on this line.
Some local trains operate a through service from to/from Tottori on the JR West Inbi Line.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Name
!Japanese
!Distance (km)
!Transfers
!colspan="2"|Location
|-
|
|上郡
|style="text-align:right;"|0.0
|20px 20px Sanyo Main Line
|rowspan="7"|Hyōgo
|rowspan="3"|Kamigōri,<br />Akō District
|-
|
|苔縄
|style="text-align:right;"|4.8
|
|-
|
|河野原円心
|style="text-align:right;"|7.4
|
|-
|
|久崎
|style="text-align:right;"|12.2
|
|rowspan="4"|Sayō,<br />Sayō District
|-
|
|佐用
|style="text-align:right;"|17.2
|20px Kishin Line
|-
|
|平福
|style="text-align:right;"|22.5
|
|-
|
|石井
|style="text-align:right;"|27.1
|
|-
|
|宮本武蔵
|style="text-align:right;"|30.6
|
|rowspan="4"|Okayama
|rowspan="2"|Mimasaka
|-
|
|大原
|style="text-align:right;"|33.2
|
|-
|
|西粟倉
|style="text-align:right;"|37.4
|
|rowspan="2"|Nishiawakura,<br />Aida District
|-
|
|あわくら温泉
|style="text-align:right;"|40.6
|
|-
|
|山郷
|style="text-align:right;"|47.2
|
|rowspan="3"|Tottori
|rowspan="3"|Chizu,<br />Yazu District
|-
|
|恋山形
|style="text-align:right;"|50.0
|
|-
|
|智頭
|style="text-align:right;"|56.1
|20px Inbi Line
|-
|align="center" colspan="6"|Through service to on the Inbi Line
|}
History
Construction of the line was approved under the Railway Construction Act in 1922 and commenced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in June 1966. Work was well advanced when a freeze on expenditure in 1980 resulted in construction being halted with 95% of the route acquired and 93% of the earthworks completed.. Trains were extended to operate to/from - initially as a temporary train[ja] from April 1995 then permanently for all trains from March 16, 1996. From March 16, 2024, 5 round trips were changed to operate to/from Osaka instead of Kyoto, leaving Kyoto with only 2 trips in each direction per day.
From November 29, 1997, the JR West Limited Express Super Inaba service commenced between and .