Hiroshima New Transit Line 1(Japanese: 広島新交通1号線, Hepburn: Hiroshima Shin Kōtsū 1-gō-sen), also known as the Astram Line(アストラムライン, Asutoramurain), is a manually operated, rubber-tyred people mover operated by Hiroshima Rapid Transit in Hiroshima, Japan. Astram opened on August 20, 1994, for the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima. The line connects central Hiroshima and Hiroshima Big Arch, which was the main stadium of the Asian Games.

On March 14, 2015 Shin-Hakushima Station opened to create a second connection between the Astram Line and the JR lines.

History

Plans to build a new transit system linking the city centre of Hiroshima with the suburban area to the northwest were first proposed in July 1977.

The third-sector railway company Hiroshima Rapid Transit was founded in 1987, funded primarily by the city of Hiroshima. Groundbreaking for the rapid transit line project began on February 28, 1989, and construction would continue over a five-year period.[citation needed] However, on March 14, 1991, 14 people were killed when a girder collapsed on a section of the line's elevated viaduct near the Kamiyasu station's construction site. The line opened for revenue service on August 20, 1994. Because the line operates underground, train staff would need to be onboard to guide passengers to safety, the line was made manually operated.

When the line originally opened in 1994, it had 21 stations, of which Ōmachi provided the line's only transfer with a JR West line (the Kabe Line). On March 14, 2015, Shin-Hakushima opened as an infill station between Hakushima and Jōhoku in order to provide a transfer point with the Sanyo Main Line.

In January 2025, the line announced fare increases of up to ¥30 per ride. This is the first fare increase (except for the addition of sales tax as sales tax laws changed) in the over 30 years since the line opened in 1994. These fare increases will take effect from October 2025.

Stations

StationDistance in km(mi)TransfersLocation
Between stationsTotal
Hondōri 本通—N/a0 (0)■ Hiroden Ujina Line (at Hondori)Naka-ku
Kenchō-mae 県庁前0.3 (0.19)0.3 (0.19)■ Hiroden Main Line ■ Hiroden Ujina Line (at Kamiya-cho-higashi or Kamiya-cho-nishi)
Jōhoku 城北1.1 (0.68)1.4 (0.87)
Shin-Hakushima 新白島0.3 (0.19)1.7 (1.1)R Sanyo Main Line B Kabe Line
Hakushima 白島0.4 (0.25)2.1 (1.3)
Ushita 牛田0.8 (0.50)2.9 (1.8)Higashi-ku
Fudōin-mae 不動院前1.1 (0.68)4.0 (2.5)
Gion-shinbashi-kita 祇園新橋北1.0 (0.62)5.0 (3.1)Asaminami-ku
Nishihara 西原1.0 (0.62)6.0 (3.7)
Nakasuji 中筋1.0 (0.62)7.0 (4.3)
Furuichi 古市0.8 (0.50)7.8 (4.8)
Ōmachi 大町0.6 (0.37)8.4 (5.2)B Kabe Line
Bishamondai 毘沙門台1.2 (0.75)9.6 (6.0)
Yasuhigashi 安東1.0 (0.62)10.6 (6.6)
Kamiyasu 上安0.8 (0.50)11.4 (7.1)
Takatori 高取0.6 (0.37)12.0 (7.5)
Chōrakuji 長楽寺0.7 (0.43)12.7 (7.9)
Tomo 伴1.2 (0.75)13.9 (8.6)
Ōbara 大原1.0 (0.62)14.9 (9.3)
Tomo-chūō 伴中央1.1 (0.68)16.0 (9.9)
Ōzuka 大塚1.6 (0.99)17.6 (10.9)
Kōiki-kōen-mae 広域公園前0.8 (0.50)18.4 (11.4)

Rolling stock

  • 7000 series 6-car EMUs (24 sets; 2020–present)

As of 2021[update], services on the line were operated using a fleet of 23 six-car 6000 series trainsets (sets 01 to 23) and three six-car 7000 series (sets 31 to 33).

The entire fleet of 24 1000 and 6000-series sets was replaced with a new fleet of six-car trains delivered in two batches. The first of 24 new 7000 series sets was delivered in October 2019 and entered service in March 2020. The lone 1000 series set was retired in June 2020.

The 6000 series was withdrawn from service following a special final run on 18 May 2025.

7000 series

7000 series set 31 in December 2019

The 7000 series trainsets (31 to 54) are formed as follows, with all cars motored.

DesignationMcMMMMMc
Numbering71xx72xx73xx74xx75xx76xx

Priority seating is provided in each car, and wheelchair spaces are provided in the end cars.

Former rolling stock

6000 series

6000 series set 19 in September 2012

The 6000 series trainsets (01 to 23) were formed as follows, with all cars motored.

DesignationMcMMMMMc
Numbering61xx62xx63xx64xx65xx66xx

Priority seating was provided in each car, and wheelchair spaces were provided in the end cars.

1000 series

The 1000 series trainset (24) was formed as follows, with four of the six cars motored.

DesignationTcMMMMTc
Numbering112412241324142415241624

Priority seating was provided in each car, and wheelchair spaces were provided in the end cars.

See also

External links

  • (in Japanese)