| Joshin Dentetsu Joshin Line | |
|---|---|
 A Joshin Electric Railway 1000 series EMU | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | Joshin Electric Railway |
| Locale | Gunma Prefecture |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 21 |
| History | |
| Opened | 10 May 1897 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 33.7 km (20.9 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Single |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Minimum radius | 160 m |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC, overhead catenary |
| Operating speed | 85 km/h (55 mph)[1] |
TheJoshin Line (上信線,Jōshin-sen) is a Japanese railway line inGunma Prefecture, betweenTakasaki Station inTakasaki andShimonita Station inShimonita, operated by the private railway operator Joshin Electric Railway (上信電鉄,Joshin Dentetsu). This is the only rail line operated by the company, although it also operates a small number of bus lines. The first section of the Joshin Line opened in 1897.
As of 1 April 2017[update], the following rolling stock is used on the line.[2]
The 1000 and 6000 series EMUs purchased new are unusual in having the driver's seat on the right-hand side facing the direction of travel.[1]
The line opened on 10 May 1897, as a762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge steam-hauled railway line fromTakasaki to Fukushima (present-dayJōshū-Fukushima), operated by the Kōzuke Railway (上野鉄道,Kōzuke Tetsudō).[1] The entire line toShimonita was opened on 25 September in the same year.[1] The line was planned to be extended southward from Shimonita to connect with the Saku Railway (present-dayKoumi Line) atHaguroshita, and the owning company was accordingly renamed Joshin Electric Railway (上信電鉄,Jōshin Denki Tetsudō) from 25 August 1921. The line was ultimately never extended, but the track was regauged to1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) and electrified with an overhead wire at 1,500 V DC.[1]
Freight operations on the line were discontinued from 1 October 1994.[1]
On 30 November 2003,Takasaki Fairy Land[5] which was a leisure complex being established as "Kappa Pia" in 1961 was discontinued. In this leisure complex, "NAKASONE FESTIVAL" was held during summer[6] because "Matsugoro Nakasone" who is a father ofYasuhiro Nakasone was a CEO of Joshi Electric Railway.
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations | Total | ||||
| Takasaki | 高崎駅 | - | 0.0 | Joetsu Shinkansen Hokuriku Shinkansen Takasaki Line Shōnan–Shinjuku Line Ueno–Tokyo Line Jōetsu Line Agatsuma Line Ryōmō Line andShin'etsu Main Line | Takasaki,Gunma |
| Minami-Takasaki | 南高崎駅 | 0.9 | 0.9 | ||
| Sanonowatashi | 佐野のわたし駅 | 1.3 | 2.2 | ||
| Negoya | 根小屋駅 | 1.5 | 3.7 | ||
| Takasaki-Shōka-Daigakumae | 高崎商科大学前駅 | 1.3 | 5.0 | ||
| Yamana | 山名駅 | 1.1 | 6.1 | ||
| Nishi-Yamana | 西山名駅 | 0.9 | 7.0 | ||
| Maniwa | 馬庭駅 | 2.4 | 9.4 | ||
| Yoshii | 吉井駅 | 2.3 | 11.7 | ||
| Nishi-Yoshii | 西吉井駅 | 1.7 | 13.4 | ||
| Jōshū-Niiya | 上州新屋駅 | 1.2 | 14.6 | Kanra,Gunma | |
| Jōshū-Fukushima | 上州福島駅 | 2.0 | 16.6 | ||
| Higashi-Tomioka | 東富岡駅 | 2.7 | 19.3 | Tomioka,Gunma | |
| Jōshū-Tomioka | 上州富岡駅 | 0.9 | 20.2 | ||
| Nishi-Tomioka | 西富岡駅 | 0.8 | 21.0 | ||
| Jōshū-Nanokaichi | 上州七日市駅 | 0.8 | 21.8 | ||
| Jōshū-Ichinomiya | 上州一ノ宮駅 | 1.3 | 23.1 | ||
| Kanohara | 神農原駅 | 2.3 | 25.4 | ||
| Nanjai | 南蛇井駅 | 2.8 | 28.2 | ||
| Sendaira | 千平駅 | 1.7 | 29.9 | ||
| Shimonita | 下仁田駅 | 2.7 | 33.7 | Shimonita,Gunma | |
