The is a manually driven rubber-tyred

people mover A people mover or automated people mover (APM) is a type of small scale automated guideway transit system. The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks. ...

system in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, operated by . The 12.7-kilometre that runs north from Ōmiya Station (Saitama), Ōmiya Station in Saitama, Saitama, alongside the Tohoku Shinkansen and Joetsu Shinkansen elevated high-speed lines through Ageo, Saitama, Ageo to Uchijuku Station in Ina, Saitama, Ina in Saitama Prefecture in the Greater Tokyo Area is the only route that is run on the system. The line is double tracked from Ōmiya Station (Saitama), Ōmiya Station to Maruyama Station (Saitama), Maruyama Station and single tracked from Maruyama to Uchijuku Station. Saitama New Urban Transit is a kabushiki gaisha whose major shareholders include the East Japan Railway Company, Tobu Railway, banks, Saitama prefectural government, and the cities and the town served.

Ina Line stations

The stations on the line are as follows. All stations are located in Saitama Prefecture. The line's depot is located next to Maruyama Station.

Rolling stock

, the following train types are used on the line, all formed as six-car sets. * 1050 series * 2000 series * 2020 series (since 4 November 2015)

1050 series

, two 1050 series sets (52 and 53) were in service, formed as six-car sets as follows. File:Saitama New Urban Transit Type 1050.JPG, 1050 series set 51 in October 2014, repainted in 2008 to commemorate the first anniversary of the opening of the Railway Museum File:Model 1050 of New Shuttle.jpg, 1050 series set 53 in November 2007 File:Saitama New Urban Transit Type 1050 53 20141004.jpg, 1050 series set 53 in October 2014, repainted into the original livery worn when first delivered

2000 series

The 2000 series fleet consists of seven six-car sets (01 to 07) formed as follows. The trains have stainless steel bodies with different colour front ends and bodyside stripes. File:Saitama New Urban Transit Type 2000 F2101.JPG, 2000 series set 01 in October 2014 File:Saitama New Urban Transit Type 2000 F2102.jpg, 2000 series set 02 in November 2015 File:Saitama New Urban Transit Type 2000 F2103.jpg, 2000 series set 03 in November 2015 File:Saitama New Urban Transit Type 2000 F2104.JPG, 2000 series set 04 in October 2014 File:Saitama New Urban Transit Type 2000 F2105.jpg, 2000 series set 05 in November 2015 File:Saitama New Urban Transit 2107 Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station 20150627 (cropped).jpg, 2000 series set 07 in June 2015

2020 series

The 2020 series fleet consists of five six-car sets (21 to 25) formed as follows. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the trains have aluminium bodies. Each set has a different accent colour, as shown below. The first 2020 series trainset, numbered 21, entered service on 4 November 2015. Set 22 entered service in February 2016, followed by set 23 in June 2016. A fourth trainset, numbered 24, entered service on 12 February 2019. File:Newshuttle2021wiki.jpg, 2020 series set 21 in January 2016 File:Newshuttle2022wiki.jpg, 2020 series set 22 in January 2016 File:Newshuttle2023.jpg, 2020 series set 23 in December 2016 File:Newshuttle2020yellow-wiki.jpg, 2020 series set 24

Former rolling stock

* 1010 series By 1 April 2015, three 1010 series sets (15, 17, 19) remained in service, formed as six-car sets. The last set (set 7) was withdrawn following its last day in service on 26 June 2016. File:NewShuttle1111.jpg, 1010 series set 11 in March 2007 File:Model 1010 of New Shuttle.jpg, 1010 series set 14 in November 2007

History

The people of Ina town, on the branch point of the Tōhoku Shinkansen, Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen high-speed railway lines, opposed the latter being routed through their area, complaining that the town would be divided by the new tracks and beset with noise pollution. To placate the residents, new railway lines were planned. The AGT Ina Line was the solution reached for the area north of Ōmiya Station, where the potential demand was not large enough to run heavy rail lines economically. (Currently, the line generates an operating profit.) A heavy rail line (the Saikyo Line) was the solution reached for the south of Ōmiya Station. * 1 April 1980: Operating company is incorporated. * 22 December 1983: The section between Ōmiya and Hanuki stations opens. * 2 August 1990: The remaining section between Hanuki and Uchijuku stations opens. * 14 October 2007: Ōnari Station is renamed Tetsudō-Hakubutsukan Station when the Railway Museum (Saitama), Railway Museum (''Tetsudō-Hakubutsukan'') opens.

References

External links

* {{Tokyo transit People mover systems in Japan Rail transport in Saitama Prefecture Railway lines opened in 1983 1983 establishments in Japan