The Nagano Electric Railway (長野電鉄, Nagano Dentetsu) is a private railway based in Nagano, Japan. The company and its line are commonly referred to as Nagaden (長電). It originally operated three lines, but only the Nagano Line between Nagano — Suzaka — Shinshū-Nakano — Yudanaka remains in service. Nagaden owns a 1.1% stake in Shinano Railway.
Operations
The Nagano Line has frequent local and express services. It is a major route for commuter traffic in Nagano, and also serves as a link for tourists going to the town of Obuse, the hot springs at Yudanaka, and the ski resorts at Shiga Kōgen.
At limited times throughout the year, there are special reserve round-trip trains between Nagano and Obuse several nights a week in which customers are served a local, specially-made bento and drink local alcohol. For example, on select evenings in March and April, local nihonshu.[3] At other seasons, a beer train on the same route is available. In addition, a wine-tasting train from Nagano to Yudanaka or Yudanaka to Nagano is available on select Saturdays throughout the year.
The original Nagano Electric Railway was built in 1926, connecting Gondō in Nagano with Suzaka, and electrified at 1,500 V DC. Later that year, the company absorbed the operations of Katō Railway, which operated a line on the east bank of the Chikuma River from Yashiro via Suzaka to Kijima, with the Gongo to Yoshida section being double-tracked. The following year, an additional line was constructed from Shinshū-Nakano to Yudanaka, and in 1928, the line was extended to Nagano Station as dual track.[citation needed]
The Yoshida - Asahi section was double-tracked in 1956, and freight services ceased in 1979. CTC signalling was commissioned between Yudanaka and Asahi in 1980, and extended to Nagano in 1984. The section from Nagano to Zenkōjishita was converted to an underground railway in 1981.[citation needed]
Former connecting lines
Suzaka Station: The Kato Railway opened a 24 km (15 mi) line to Yashiro on the (now) Shinano Railway Line in 1922, electrified it at 1,500 V DC in January 1926, and merged with the Nagano Electric Railway in September the same year. Due to falling patronage, the line closed on 31 March 2012.[7]
Shinshū-Nakano Station: The Kato Railway opened the 13 km (8.1 mi) line to Kijima in 1925 and electrified it at 1,500 V DC the following year. Freight services ceased in 1979 and CTC signalling was commissioned on the line in 1980, but due to falling patronage, the line closed in 2002.[citation needed]
^"東急８５００系と田園都市線のあゆみ" [Tokyu 8500 series and the History of the Denentoshi Line]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō. 38 (301). Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha: 12–21. May 2009.
^"長野電鉄3500系、最後の現役車両が1/19で完全引退 - イベント開催" [Nagano Electric Railway 3500 series, the last active vehicle will be completely retired on 1/19, Event to be held]. MyNavi Corporation (in Japanese). 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^長野電鉄屋代線が廃止される [Nagano Electric Railway Yashiro Line Closes]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
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