The is the principal railway line on the island of Shikoku in Japan, connecting the major cities of Shikoku, and via the Honshi-Bisan Line, with Honshu. It is operated by the Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku), and is aligned approximately parallel with the Inland Sea coast, connecting the prefectural capitals of Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture) and Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture) and continuing on to Uwajima. The name of the line comes from and , the old names of Ehime and Kagawa, respectively. The line consists of two alignments between Mukaibara and Iyo-Ōzu. The original main line follows the coast via Iyo-Nagahama, while the direct line, opened in 1986 as a bypass of the lengthy coastal route, goes through the mountains via Uchiko, part of which is known as the Uchiko Line (as it was originally part of the Uchiko branch), and all limited express trains now use this route. Until 1988 the Yosan Line, along with the Dosan Line, connected with the Rail Ferry (from Uno) at Takamatsu Station. Direct services from Okayama now operate with the completion of the Great Seto Bridge system, over which the Honshi-Bisan Line travels. Basic data Operators, distances: Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) (Services and tracks) Takamatsu — Uwajima: Mukaibara — Uchiko: Niiya — Iyo-Ōzu: Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services) Takamatsu – Iyo-Yokota: Double-tracked section: Takamatsu – Tadotsu Railway signalling: Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) Maximum speed: Takamatsu – Matsuyama: Matsuyama – Uchiko, Iyo-Iwaki – Unomachi: Other sections: Services As the most important trunk line of Shikoku, the line has many limited express services. These include: Ishizuchi Midnight Express Takamatsu Shiokaze Uwakai Shimanto Nanpū Uzushio Sunrise Seto Midnight Express Matsuyama There are two rapid services. The Sunport Nanpū Relay-Gō rapid service connects Takamatsu and Iyo-Saijō. The Marine Liner rapid service connects Takamatsu with Okayama via the Seto-Ōhashi Line. Local service typically serves one of four sections of the Yosan Line, generally divided at Kan'onji, Iyo-Saijō, and Matsuyama. History The first segment of the line, from Tadotsu to Marugame, was constructed by the Sanuki Railway Co. and commenced operation in 1889. The Marugame - Takamatsu section opened in 1897, and in the company was nationalised in 1906. The line was extended west from Tadotsu in sections commencing in 1913, reaching Matsuyama in 1927. Further west, a private 762mm (2'6") gauge line was opened from Iyo Nagahama - Iyo Ozu, with the line being privatised in 1933.