The is a

private railway A private railway is a railroad run by a private business entity (usually a corporation but not need be), as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector. Japan In Japan, , commonly simply ''private railway'', refers to a public transit railway o ...

based in

Nagano Nagano may refer to: Places * Nagano Prefecture, a prefecture in Japan ** Nagano (city), the capital city of the same prefecture *** Nagano 1998, the 1998 Winter Olympics *** Nagano Olympic Stadium, a baseball stadium in Nagano *** Nagano Universi ...

, Japan. The company and its line are commonly referred to as . It originally operated three lines, but only the Nagano Line between Nagano — Suzaka — Shinshū-Nakano — Yudanaka remains in service. Nagaden makes a 1.1% investment in

Shinano Railway The is a Japanese third-sector railway operating company established in 1996 to operate passenger railway services on the section of the JR East Shinetsu Main Line within Nagano Prefecture when it is separated from the JR East network in Octobe ...

Operations

The Nagano Line has frequent local and express services. It is a major route for commuter traffic in Nagano, and also serves as a link for tourists going to the town of

Obuse is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 10,999 in 3832 households, and a population density of 580 persons per km2. The total area of the town is . Geography Obuse is located in northern Nagano Pr ...

, the hot springs at Yudanaka, and the ski resorts at Shiga Kōgen. At limited times throughout the year, there are special reserve round-trip trains between Nagano and Obuse several nights a week in which customers are served a local, specially-made

bento A is the Japanese cuisine, Japanese iteration of a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal, often for lunch. Outside Japan, it is common in other East and Southeast Asian culinary styles, especially within Chinese cuisine, Chinese, Korean c ...

and drink local alcohol. For example, on select evenings in March and April, local nihonshu. At other seasons, a beer train on the same route is available. In addition, a wine-tasting train from Nagano to Yudanaka or Yudanaka to Nagano is available on select Saturdays throughout the year.

Stations

Rolling stock

* 1000 series 4-car EMUs (2 sets) :Ex-

Odakyū 10000 series HiSE The (High-decker/High-grade/High-level Super Express) was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway on ''Romancecar'' services in the Tokyo area of Japan between 1987 and 2012. Formation Each trainset c ...

sets for

Limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common ...

"A" (''Yukemuri'') services. Entered service from 9 December 2006. * 2100 series 3-car EMUs (2 sets) :Ex-JR Narita Express

253 series 53 may refer to: * 53 (number) * one of the years 53 BC, AD 53, 1953, 2053 * FiftyThree, an American privately held technology company that specializes in tools for mobile creation and visual thinking * 53rd Regiment Alabama Cavalry * 53rd Regiment ...

sets for ''Snow Monkey'' limited express services. Entered service from 26 February 2011. * 3000 series 3-car EMUs :Ex-

Tokyo Metro 03 series The was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the Tokyo subway operator Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. A total of 42 eight-car trainsets were built, between 1988 and 1994, entering service on 1 July 1988. Operations The 03 serie ...

sets for local services. Introduced in January 2020. Scheduled to replace the existing 3500 & 3600 series in 2020. * 3500 series 2-car EMUs (14 sets) and 3600 series 3-car EMUs (3 sets) :Ex-

TRTA 3000 series The was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by TRTA (present-day Tokyo Metro) on the then Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, TRTA Hibiya Line from 1961 to 1994. Operations This train was fitted with safety systems compatible with the Tok ...

sets for local services. Introduced in 1993. Scheduled to be removed from service on 19 January 2023. * 8500 series 3-car EMUs (6 sets) :Ex-

Tokyu 8500 series The is a commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tokyu Corporation on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line and Tokyu Oimachi Line in the Tokyo area of Japan since 1975 and the Jabodetabek area of Indones ...

sets for local services. Introduced in 2005.

Former rolling stock

* 2000 series 3-car EMUs :For Limited express "B" services. (1957–August 2011) * 0 series :For "Officeman & Student" Local services. (1966–2002) * 10 series :For "Officeman & Student" Local services. (1980–2017)

History

The original Nagano Electric Railway was built in 1926, connecting Gondō in Nagano with Suzaka, and electrified at 1,500 V DC. Later that year, the company absorbed the operations of Katō Railway, which operated a line on the east bank of the

Chikuma River The , known as the in its upper reaches, is the longest and widest river in Japan and the third largest by basin area (behind the Tone River and Ishikari River). It is located in northeastern Honshu, rising in the Japanese Alps and flowing g ...

from Yashiro via Suzaka to Kijima, with the Gongo to Yoshida section being double-tracked. The following year, an additional line was constructed from Shinshū-Nakano to Yudanaka, and in 1928, the line was extended to

Nagano Station is a railway station in the city of Nagano in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The station is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and the private railway operator Nagano Electric Railway (Nagaden). Lines Nagano Station is served by the f ...

as dual track. The Yoshida - Asahi section was double-tracked in 1956, and freight services ceased in 1979. CTC signalling was commissioned between Yudanaka and Asahi in 1980, and extended to Nagano in 1984. The section from Nagano to Zenkōjishita was converted to an underground railway in 1981.

Former connecting lines

* Suzaka Station: The Kato Railway opened a 24 km line to Yashiro on the (now)

Shinano Railway Line The is a 65.1 km railway line operated by the third-sector railway operating company Shinano Railway in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It connects Karuizawa Station in Karuizawa with Shinonoi Station in Nagano. Overview Before October 19 ...

in 1922, electrified it at 1,500 V DC in January 1926, and merged with the Nagano Electric Railway in September the same year. Due to falling patronage, the line closed on 31 March 2012. * Shinshū-Nakano Station: The Kato Railway opened the 13 km line to Kijima in 1925 and electrified it at 1,500 V DC the following year. Freight services ceased in 1979 and CTC signalling was commissioned on the line in 1980, but due to falling patronage, the line closed in 2002.

Gallery

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.

External links

* {{Authority control Railway lines in Japan

Railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

Rail transport in Nagano Prefecture Companies based in Nagano Prefecture Railway companies established in 1926