Watarase Keikoku Line

Watarase Keikoku Line
Watarase Keikoku Railway Wa 89-313 train.
Overview
Native nameわたらせ渓谷線
Termini
Stations17
History
Opened15 April 1911 (1911-04-15)
Technical
Line length44.1 km (27.4 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Operating speed75 km/h (47 mph) (Maximum)
Train protection systemATS-P
ATS-S N

The Watarase Keikoku Line (わたらせ渓谷線, Watarase Keikoku-sen) is a Japanese railway line connecting Kiryū Station in Kiryū, Gunma and Matō Station in Nikkō, Tochigi. This is the only railway line that the third-sector company Watarase Keikoku Railway (わたらせ渓谷鐵道, Watarase Keikoku Tetsudō) operates. The company and line are also known as Watakei (わた渓) or Watetsu (わ鐵). The company acquired the line from the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in 1989. As the name suggests, the line runs along the Watarase River through a deep valley.

History

The Ashio Railway Co. opened the line to Ashio-Motoyama (2 kilometres or 1.2 miles beyond Mato) in 1911–12 to service the Ashio Copper Mine, and leased the line to JNR in 1913. Passenger services were introduced in 1914. In 1918 the line was nationalised.[1]

The copper mine closed in 1973, the same year the line was deviated for the construction of the Kusaki Dam,[1] including the 5,242-metre (17,198 ft) Kusaki Tunnel.

Operation of the line between Kiryū and Matō was transferred to the Watarase Keikoku Railway, a third-sector company, in 1989.[2] Also in 1989, the Ashio-Motoyama – Mato section was closed.

Basic data

  • Distance: 44.1 km (27.4 mi)
  • Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
  • Stations: 17
  • Double-tracking: None
  • Electrification: None
  • Railway signalling:
    • Kiryū — Shimo-Shinden: Automatic
    • Shimo-Shinden — Matō: Simplified Automatic

Station list

  • Trains stop at stations marked "●" and pass those marked "｜".
  • Local trains stop at all stations (other than Shimo-Shinden Signal Box).
Station No. Station Japanese Watarase Keikoku-gō Transfers Location
WK01 Kiryū 桐生   East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Ryōmō Line
Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line (Nishi-Kiryū) 		Kiryū Gunma
WK02 Shimo-Shinden 下新田    
WK03 Aioi 相老 ※ Tōbu Railway: Kiryū Line
WK04 Undō-Kōen 運動公園 ｜ Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line (Kiryū-Kyūjō-Mae)
WK05 Ōmama 大間々 ● Tōbu: Kiryū Line (Akagi)
Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line (Akagi) 		Midori
WK06 Kami-Kambai 上神梅 ｜  
WK07 Motojuku 本宿 ｜   Kiryū
WK08 Mizunuma 水沼 ●  
WK09 Hanawa 花輪 ｜   Midori
WK10 Nakano 中野 ｜  
WK11 Konaka 小中 ｜  
WK12 Gōdo 神戸 ●  
WK13 Sōri 沢入 ●  
WK14 Haramukō 原向 ｜   Nikkō Tochigi
WK15 Tsūdō 通洞 ●  
WK16 Ashio 足尾 ●  
WK17 Matō 間藤    

References

  1. ^ a b c "沿革・歴史" [Company History]. watetsu.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  2. ^ Bushell, Chris, ed. (2006). Railway Directory 2006 (111th ed.). Reed Business Information. p. 127. ISBN 0-617-01031-5.
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