The Nagareyama Line (流山線, Nagareyama-sen) is a commuter rail line in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by Ryutetsu (流鉄株式会社, Ryūtetsu kabushiki-kaisha) between Mabashi Station in Matsudo and Nagareyama Station in Nagareyama. The line and the operator company was called the Sōbu Nagareyama Line (総武流山線, Sōbu Nagareyama-sen) and Sōbu Nagareyama Electric Railway (総武流山電鉄, Sōbu Nagareyama Dentetsu) respectively until the renaming on August 1, 2008.[1] The present line name was the most popular short name of the line. It was also called Ryūden (流電).

Nagareyama Line
流山線
Ryūtetsu Nagareyama 2000 series EMU Aozora near Mabashi
Overview
OwnerRyūtetsu
LocaleChiba Prefecture
Termini
Stations6
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Depot(s)Nagareyama
History
Opened1916
Technical
Line length5.7 km (3.54 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary

This is the only line Ryūtetsu operates, making the company unique for being an independent railway operator with just a single 5.7 km line and no major subsidiary businesses (unlike Yamaman or The Oriental Land Company and their Disney Resort Line). The short line functions as a link between the centre of the city of Nagareyama and the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Jōban Line. However, after the opening of the Tsukuba Express on August 24, 2005, ridership fell sharply. Suica and PASMO contactless smart cards cannot be used, and Ryūtetsu reportedly has no plans to introduce the system on the line.

Basic data

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History

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Outside and inside a Ryūtetsu Nagareyama line train, 2012

The company was incorporated on November 7, 1913 as Nagareyama Light Railway (流山軽便鉄道, Nagareyama Keiben Tetsudō) and opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge railway on March 14, 1916. The company renamed Nagareyama Railway (流山鉄道, Nagareyama Tetsudō) in November 1922 and rebuilt the railway track to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge in 1924.[1]

The company name was again changed to Nagareyama Electric Railway (Nagareyama Denki Tetsudō) in 1949, to Nagareyama Electric Railway (Nagareyama Dentetsu) in 1967, to Sōbu Nagareyama Electric Railway in 1971 and to Ryūtetsu in 2008.[1]

Stations

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All stations are in Chiba Prefecture.

No. Station Japanese Distance Transfers Location
Between
stations
Total
RN1 Mabashi 馬橋 - 0.0 km (0 mi) Jōban Line Matsudo
RN2 Kōya 幸谷 1.7 km (1.1 mi) 1.7 km (1.1 mi) Jōban Line, Musashino Line (Shin-Matsudo, unofficial)
RN3 Kogane-Jōshi 小金城趾 1.1 km (0.68 mi) 2.8 km (1.7 mi)  
RN4 Hiregasaki 鰭ヶ崎 0.8 km (0.50 mi) 3.6 km (2.2 mi)   Nagareyama
RN5 Heiwadai 平和台 1.5 km (0.93 mi) 5.1 km (3.2 mi)  
RN6 Nagareyama 流山 0.6 km (0.37 mi) 5.7 km (3.5 mi)  

References

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  1. ^ a b c 総武流山電鉄 社名と線名を変更 (in Japanese). 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
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