Shinano Railway Line

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Shinano Railway is also the name of a former operator of the Ōito Line
Shinano Railway 169 series EMU
Shinano Railway 169 series EMU

The Shinano Railway Line (しなの鉄道線 Shinano Tetsudō-sen?) is a 65.1 km private railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan between Karuizawa Station, Karuizawa and Shinonoi Station, Nagano. This is the only railway line Shinano Railway (しなの鉄道 Shinano Tetsudō?) operates.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Before 1997, the right-of-way currently belonging to the Shinano Railway was a part of the Shin'etsu Main Line of East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and served as the main train route connecting Nagano and Tokyo. Upon completion of the Nagano Shinkansen in 1997, JR East transferred all long distance operations to the shinkansen, and control of the Shin'etsu Main Line between Karuizawa and Shinonoi was handed over to the newly formed Shinano Railway, which is majority owned by the Nagano Prefectural Government. Today, the line is a vital commuter transport route for communities in the east and north of Nagano Prefecture.

The line is electrified and double-tracked with a track gauge of 1,067 mm for its entire length. The speed limit is 100 km/h (reduced from 120 km/h as the Shin'etsu Main Line).

Like many railways in rural parts of Japan, the line faces problems concerning decreased ridership and revenue.[citation needed] In recent years, additional stations have been opened at Tekuno-Sakaki, Yashiro-kōkō-mae, and Shinano-Kokubunji in order to increase passenger numbers. Also, driver-only operation has been introduced to most of the line in order to reduce personnel costs.

[edit] Current rolling stock

Shinano Railway 115 series EMU
Shinano Railway 115 series EMU
  • 115 series EMU - 11 three-car sets
  • 169 series EMU - 4 three-car sets

Shinano Railway uses trainsets that were inherited from JR East when the line was transferred. Since then, the trains have been painted with Shinano Railway's livery and have been renovated. Many of the trains have video screens above the doors which feature commercials and other information.

In general, the 115 series is used for local services, while the 169 series is used for rapid and liner services.

[edit] Stations

Station Japanese Distance Local Rapid Shinano
Sunrise
Liner		 Shinano
Sunset
Liner		 Transfers Municipality Prefecture
Shinano Railway Line
Karuizawa 軽井沢 0.0 km
O
O
 JR East: Nagano Shinkansen Karuizawa,
Kitasaku District		 Nagano
Naka-Karuizawa 中軽井沢 4.0 km
O
O
Shinano-Oiwake 信濃追分 7.2 km
O
O
Miyota 御代田 13.2 km
O
O
 Miyota,
Kitasaku District
Hirahara 平原 18.3 km
O
↓
 Komoro
Komoro 小諸 22.0 km
O
O
O
 JR East: Koumi Line
Shigeno 滋野 27.9 km
O
Some
O
 Tōmi
Tanaka 田中 31.3 km
O
O
O
Ōya 大屋 34.7 km
O
O
O
 Ueda
Shinano-Kokubunji 信濃国分寺 37.1 km
O
Some
O
Ueda 上田 40.0 km
O
O
O
O
 JR East: Nagano Shinkansen
Ueda Electric Railway Bessho Line
Nishi-Ueda 西上田 44.4 km
O
↓
↓
↓
Tekuno-Sakaki テクノさかき 47.9 km
O
↓
↓
↓
 Sakaki,
Hanishina District
Sakaki 坂城 50.4 km
O
Some
↓
↓
Togura 戸倉 54.9 km
O
O
↓
↓
 Chikuma
Yashiro 屋代 59.9 km
O
O
↓
↓
 Nagano Electric Railway: Yashiro Line
Yashiro-kōkō-mae 屋代高校前 61.8 km
O
↓
↓
↓
Shinonoi 篠ノ井 65.1 km
O
O
↓
↓
 JR East: Shinonoi Line Nagano
Through Service on the Shinetsu Main Line of JR East
Imai 今井 67.2 km
O
↓
↓
↓
 Nagano Nagano
Kawanakajima 川中島 69.4 km
O
Some
↓
↓
Amori 安茂里 71.5 km
O
↓
↓
↓
Nagano 長野 74.4 km
O
O
O
O
 JR East: Nagano Shinkansen, Shin'etsu Main Line, Iiyama Line
Nagano Electric Railway: Nagano Line

Shinano Railway Line trains use the right-of-way of the Shin'etsu Main Line between Shinonoi and Nagano. All trains terminate at Nagano, not Shinonoi.

A 200 yen surcharge is required to use the Shinano Sunrise and Sunset Liner services between Ueda and Nagano. No surcharge is required for Sunrise passengers travelling only between Komoro and Ueda.

[edit] See also

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[edit] External links

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