The Bessho Line (別所線, Bessho-sen) is an 11.6 km (7.2 mi) Japanese railway line in Ueda, Nagano, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Ueda Electric Railway (上田電鉄, Ueda Dentetsu). It connects Ueda and Bessho-Onsen stations. This is currently the only railway line Ueda Dentetsu operates. Although the company is the root of its holding company, Ueda Kōtsū (上田交通, "Ueda Transport"), the group now mainly operates resort amusement facilities and bus lines. Ueda Kōtsū is owned by Tokyu Corporation. The railway line lacked funds to upgrade the infrastructure to meet the new safety standards, and separated to become the present company.
| Ueda Electric Railway Bessho Line | |
|---|---|
 | |
 An Ueda Electric Railway 1000 series train in August 2008 | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | Ueda Electric Railway |
| Locale | Ueda, Nagano |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 15 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1921 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 11.6 km (7.2 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Single |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Minimum radius | 120 m[1] |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC, overhead catenary |
| Operating speed | 65 km/h (40 mph)[1] |
Stations edit
| No. | Name | Japanese | Distance (km) | Date opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BE01 | Ueda | 上田 | 0.0 | 15 August 1923 |
| BE02 | Shiroshita | 城下 | 0.8 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE03 | Miyoshichō | 三好町 | 1.5 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE04 | Akasakaue | 赤坂上 | 2.2 | 21 September 1932 |
| BE05 | Uedahara | 上田原 | 2.9 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE06 | Terashita | 寺下 | 3.8 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE07 | Kabatake | 神畑 | 4.5 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE08 | Daigakumae | 大学前 | 5.2 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE09 | Shimonogō | 下之郷 | 6.1 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE10 | Nakashioda | 中塩田 | 7.4 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE11 | Shiodamachi | 塩田町 | 8.0 | 14 July 1934 |
| BE12 | Nakano | 中野 | 8.5 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE13 | Maita | 舞田 | 9.4 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE14 | Yagisawa | 八木沢 | 10.1 | 17 June 1921 |
| BE15 | Bessho-Onsen | 別所温泉 | 11.6 | 17 June 1921 |
Rolling stock edit
As of 1 April 2015[update], the fleet of trains operated on the line is as follows.[2]
- 1000 series 2-car EMUs x4 (former Tokyu 1000 series, since 2008)[3]
- 6000 series 2-car EMU x1 (former Tokyu 1000 series, since 28 March 2015)
- 7200 series 2-car EMU x1 (former Tokyu 7200 series, since 29 March 1998)[1]
-
1000 series set 1001 in May 2012. Front designation/service signs shown are from former Tokyu Toyoko line service with through-running to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. -
1000 series set 1004 in retro-style blue and cream livery in June 2017 -
6000 series set 6001 in January 2017 -
7200 series in May 2012
1000 series edit
Eight former Tokyu 1000 series EMU end cars were resold to the Ueda Electric Railway, and reformed as four two-car 1000 series sets.[4]
Formations edit
| Designation | Mc | Tc |
|---|---|---|
| Numbering | DeHa 100x | KuHa 110x |
6000 series edit
In 2015, two former Tokyu Toyoko Line 1000 series intermediate cars (DeHa 1255 and DeHa 1305) were resold to the Ueda Electric Railway, which were reformed as a two-car 6000 series set with the addition of new cab ends.[4]
Formation edit
| Designation | Mc | Tc |
|---|---|---|
| Numbering | DeHa 6001x | KuHa 6101x |
Car identities edit
The former identities of the fleet are as shown below.[4]
| Set No. | Car No. | Tokyu numbering |
|---|---|---|
| 1001 | DeHa 1001 | DeHa 1315 |
| KuHa 1101 | KuHa 1015 | |
| 1002 | DeHa 1002 | DeHa 1318 |
| KuHa 1102 | KuHa 1018 | |
| 1003 | DeHa 1003 | DeHa 1314 |
| KuHa 1103 | KuHa 1014 | |
| 1004 | DeHa 1004 | DeHa 1316 |
| KuHa 1104 | KuHa 1016 | |
| 6001 | DeHa 6001 | DeHa 1305 |
| KuHa 6101 | DeHa 1255 |
History edit
The first section of the line opened on 17 June 1921, using a 600 V DC overhead power supply.[1] The line voltage was raised to 1,500 V DC from 1 October 1986.[1] Wanman driver-only operation commenced on the line from 3 October 2005.[1]
In 2009, the company sold out affiliated companies that Joden Bus and Joden Taxi to Jay Will Partners.
From 1 April 2016, station numbering was introduced on the line, with stations numbered from "BE01" (Ueda) to "BE15" (Bessho-Onsen).[5]
See also edit
- List of railway companies in Japan
- List of railway lines in Japan
- Ueda Bus (This company had been a subsidiary until 2009)
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. pp. 84–240. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
- ^ 私鉄車両編成表 2015 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 23 July 2015. p. 87. ISBN 978-4-330-58415-7.
- ^ 上田電鉄1000系 [Ueda Electric Railway 1000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 48, no. 567. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2008. p. 103.
- ^ a b c Kubo, Toshi (July 2017). 東京メトロ日比谷線-4 [Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line - 4]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 675. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 125–126.
- ^ 【上田電鉄】駅ナンバリング導入 [Ueda Electric Railway introduced station numbering]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
External links edit
- Official website (in Japanese)