藤崎台駅跡

Beneath the modern cityscape of Chiba lies a forgotten station, a ghost of the past. The Fujimidai Station. This unassuming patch of land, now occupied by homes and businesses, once pulsed with the energy of arriving and departing trains. Fujimidai Station was a key stop on the Shin-Keisei Line. Its history is intertwined with the Imperial Japanese Army Railway Association’s training line. This line, built before World War II, played a vital role in preparing soldiers and transporting supplies. The Shin-Keisei Electric Railway used this pre-existing line, which explains the many curves and turns. This line was originally built for training, so a certain distance was required. Regulations stipulated at least 45 kilometers. This need for distance explains the circuitous route of the tracks. Fujimidai Station itself opened in 1953 as Shin-Shibamata Station. It was renamed Fujimidai Station in 1961. The station played a crucial role in connecting commuters to the Sobu Main Line at Shibamata Station. It also served as a junction. Trains from Matsudo heading toward Shibamata Station offered two destinations. Passengers could either continue to Shin-Shibamata Station or branch off toward Keisei-Shibamata Station. This caused some confusion. Passengers sometimes walked long distances between the similarly named stations, unaware of the actual layout. This confusion ultimately led to a redesign. The line between Shin-Shibamata/Fujimidai and Keisei-Shibamata was abandoned. The current Shin-Shibamata Station was then built in its present location. The old Fujimidai Station was closed in 1968. Today, little remains to suggest a station once stood here. The station and its tracks have vanished. Homes and roads have replaced them. But if you look closely, you might sense the echo of a bygone era. You might imagine the steam locomotives chugging along, carrying soldiers to training or commuters to work. The Fujimidai Station is a reminder that even in a rapidly changing world, traces of the past can still be found if you know where to look.