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.

Stations

No.NameJapaneseDistance (km)Date opened
BE01Ueda上田0.015 August 1923
BE02Shiroshita城下0.817 June 1921
BE03Miyoshichō三好町1.517 June 1921
BE04Akasakaue赤坂上2.221 September 1932
BE05Uedahara上田原2.917 June 1921
BE06Terashita寺下3.817 June 1921
BE07Kabatake神畑4.517 June 1921
BE08Daigakumae大学前5.217 June 1921
BE09Shimonogō下之郷6.117 June 1921
BE10Nakashioda中塩田7.417 June 1921
BE11Shiodamachi塩田町8.014 July 1934
BE12Nakano中野8.517 June 1921
BE13Maita舞田9.417 June 1921
BE14Yagisawa八木沢10.117 June 1921
BE15Bessho-Onsen別所温泉11.617 June 1921

Rolling stock

As of 1 April 2015[update], the fleet of trains operated on the line is as follows.

  • 1000 series 2-car EMUs x4 (former Tokyu 1000 series, since 2008)
  • 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)
  • 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

Eight former Tokyu 1000 series EMU end cars were resold to the Ueda Electric Railway, and reformed as four two-car 1000 series sets.

Formations

DesignationMcTc
NumberingDeHa 100xKuHa 110x

6000 series

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.

Formation

DesignationMcTc
NumberingDeHa 6001xKuHa 6101x

Car identities

The former identities of the fleet are as shown below.

Set No.Car No.Tokyu numbering
1001DeHa 1001DeHa 1315
KuHa 1101KuHa 1015
1002DeHa 1002DeHa 1318
KuHa 1102KuHa 1018
1003DeHa 1003DeHa 1314
KuHa 1103KuHa 1014
1004DeHa 1004DeHa 1316
KuHa 1104KuHa 1016
6001DeHa 6001DeHa 1305
KuHa 6101DeHa 1255

History

The first section of the line opened on 17 June 1921, using a 600 V DC overhead power supply. The line voltage was raised to 1,500 V DC from 1 October 1986. Wanman driver-only operation commenced on the line from 3 October 2005.

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).

See also

External links

  • (in Japanese)