Trains run twice per hour during the day; during morning peak hours between 7:00 and 9:00, three trains run per hour. There is a single Fukui-bound rapid train each morning, as well as a local "Mezamashi Train" departing Katsuyama at 5:09 every Monday morning that connects with Osaka and Nagoya-bound JR West limited express trains departing from Fukui Station.
History
Kyoto Dentō, a former body of Keifuku began operating the line in 1914 between Shin-Fukui Station and Ichiarakawa Station. The line was extended in 1918 to Ōno-Sanban Station, and again to Fukui Station in 1929. In 1974 due to falling ridership, the section from Katsuyama to Keifuku-Ōno was closed. In 1998, Keifuku proposed that the section from Eiheijiguchi to Katsuyama also be closed, but after local opposition the line was kept open. On December 17, 2000, a train entering from the Eiheiji Line at Higashi-Furuichi Station could not stop due to brake problems and collided with another train on the Echizen Main Line, killing the driver and injuring 24 passengers. Only six months later on June 24, 2001, two trains going different directions collided head-on between Hota and Hossaka stations on the Echizen Main Line injuring 24. These two accidents forced Keifuku to cease operation in 2001 and eventually transfer its Fukui Prefecture lines to Echizen Railway in 2003.
Chronology
February 11, 1914: Kyōto Dentō begins operations between Shin-Fukui — Ichiarakawa stations.
March 11, 1914: Ichiarakawa — Katsuyama section opens. Kannonchō Station opens.
April 10, 1914: Katsuyama — Ōnoguchi section opens.
September 1, 1914: Shiiguchi Station renamed to Fukuiguchi Station.
October 1, 1955: Ōno-Sanban Station renamed Keifuku-Ōno Station.
December 16, 1961: Yomogi Station opens.
August 13, 1974: Katsuyama — Keifuku-Ōno section closed.
August 1, 1980: Freight operations between Fukuiguchi — Katsuyama end.
October 26, 1980: Freight operations between Shin-Fukui — Fukuiguchi end.
April 20, 1989: Driver-only operation initiated during non-peak hours.
March 20, 1991: Driver-only operation initiated on all trains throughout the day.
December 17, 2000: Two trains from the Echizen Main Line and Eiheiji Line collide head-on between Shiizakai and Higashi-Furuichi stations.
June 24, 2001: Two trains collide head-on between Hota and Hossaka stations.
June 25, 2001: Operations halted on entire line.
February 1, 2003: Echizen Main Line renamed Katsuyama Eiheiji Line; transferred to Echizen Railway.
February 20, 2003: Higashi-Furuichi Station renamed Eiheijiguchi Station.
July 20, 2003: Operation on Fukui — Eiheijiguchi section restarts.
October 19, 2003: Operation on Eiheijiguchi — Katsuyama section restarts.
April 1, 2005: Kobunato and Hota stations begin serving all local trains; rapid trains pass.
April 9, 2006: Due to construction of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Shin-Fukui — Fukuiguchi section single-tracked.
Former connecting lines
Eiheijiguchi Station - The Eiheiji Railway Co. opened a 25 km line to its namesake town in 1929, connecting with the Hokuriku Main Line at Arawa Onsen. The company merged with the Keifuku Electric Railway Co. in 1944. The Arawa Onsen - Higashi-Furuichi section closed in 1969, and the section to Eijeihi closed in 2002 after a fatal head-on collision resulted in services being suspended and subsequently never resumed.
Rolling stock
Echizen Railway uses twenty-five cars total in its entire railway. The main type active is the MC6101 with twelve cars, followed by MC2101 with eight cars, MC6001 with two cars, and three other types with one car each.
Stations
All stations are located in Fukui Prefecture.
Rapid trains: ● - rapid and local trains stop, | - rapid trains pass, ▲ - rapid and some local trains pass
Stations marked with a ※ are staffed.
Local trains stop at every station; some local trains pass Hishima.
