The is a railway line operated by the Japanese

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 ...

operator Alpico Kōtsū in the western suburbs of Matsumoto,

Nagano Prefecture is a Landlocked country, landlocked Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,007,682 () and has a geographic area of . Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture ...

. The line connects with , the transportation gateway to Kamikōchi and the Hida Mountains.

Stations

All stations on the line are located in the city of

Matsumoto, Nagano is a Cities of Japan, city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Core cities of Japan, core city since 1 April 2021. , the city had a population of 239,466 in 105,207 households and a population density of 240 perso ...

Rolling stock

, services on the line are operated using a fleet of four two-car 3000 series stainless steel

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...

(EMU) trains, which were formerly Keio 3000 series EMUs. Former Tobu 20100 series EMUs of

Tobu Railway is a Japanese commuter railway and ''keiretsu'' holding company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. Excluding the Japan Railways Group companies, Tobu's rail system is the second longes ...

, are scheduled to replace the 3000 series trains starting in April 2022.About series 20100
/ref> With the raising of the overhead power supply voltage to 1,500 V DC in December 1986, the line's fleet was replaced by four two-car former

Tokyu 5000 series The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tokyu Corporation since 2002 on many of its commuter lines in the Tokyo area of Japan. Design First introduced in 2002, the design is based on the JR Ea ...

EMUs. As these trains did not have air-conditioning, they were replaced between 1999 and 2000 by four two-car former Keio 3000 series EMUs. File:Matsuden moha 10 01.jpg, Withdrawn MoHa 10 EMU cars in 1988 File:Matsuden 5007 and 5009 02.jpg, A 5000 series EMU in 1988 File:Matsumoto Electric Railway Type 3000.JPG, 3000 series set 3001 in February 2008

History

The line opened on 2 October 1921 as the from to , electrified at 600 V DC. The line was extended to (now closed), opening on 26 September 1922. On 27 December 1932, the Chikuma Railway was renamed the . The overhead line power supply voltage was increased from 600 V DC to 750 V DC in 1957, and further raised to 1,500 V DC in December 1986. Freight services were discontinued from 1 December 1973. In September 1983, landslides caused by Typhoon Forrest resulted in suspension of services on the line beyond Shinshimashima to Shimashima. This section was formally closed on 31 December 1984. On 1 April 2011, following a merger with local bus operators, the operating company was renamed Alpico Kōtsū. However, the line is still occasionally referred to with its old operator's name as the "Matsumoto Dentetsu Kamikōchi Line"; station signage has been largely updated to instead read "ALPICO Kotsu Kamikōchi Line".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamikochi Line Railway lines in Nagano Prefecture 1067 mm gauge railways in Japan Hida Mountains Railway lines opened in 1921

Stations

Rolling stock

History

See also

References