- Source: Sapporo Streetcar
The Sapporo Streetcar (札幌市電, Sapporo shiden) is a tram loop located in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is operated by the Sapporo City Transportation Bureau. The system is sometimes referred to by residents as simply the "shiden" (市電). The first section of the network opened in 1909 as the "Sapporo Stone Horsecar Railway" (札幌石材馬車鉄道, Sapporo sekizai basha tetsudō); it was electrified in 1918. The Transportation Bureau took over the network in 1927.
Lines and routes
At its peak in 1958, the network was 25 kilometers (16 mi) in length with 11 lines and 7 routes. However, the network shrank due to increased automobile ownership and the opening of the Sapporo Municipal Subway.
After the closures in the 1970s, three lines remained. They were collectively called the Ichijō-Yamahana Streetcar Line (一条・山鼻軌道線, Ichijō-yamahana-kidōsen) or simply the Streetcar Line (軌道線, Kidōsen), since the lines covered an incomplete city center route.
Ichijō Line (一条線): Nishi-Yon-Chōme – Nishi-Jūgo-Chōme
Yamahana-Nishi Line (山鼻西線): Nishi-Jūgo-Chōme – Chūō-Toshokan-Mae
Yamahana Line (山鼻線): Chūō-Toshokan-Mae – Susukino
The lines were combined into a single circle route following the opening of the Toshin Line (都心線) between Susukino and Nishi-Yon-Chōme in December 2015.
Almost all trams run the full circle line, with several trams running between Nishi-Yon-Chōme and Nishisen-Jūroku-Jō during the morning rush hours.
Trams run at a frequency of 7 to 8 minutes during the day and 3 minutes during weekday peak periods between Nishi-Yon-Chōme and Nishisen-Jūroku-Jō stations.
Vehicles are taken out of service at Chūō-Toshokan-Mae.
The fare is ¥200. Like the subway, the tram accepts the SAPICA card, a prepaid magnetic card. Any other electronic IC cards (like Kitaca or Suica) can also be used.
Stations
All stations are located in Chūō-ku, Sapporo.
See also
Sapporo Municipal Subway
Sapporo City Transportation Bureau
List of tram and light rail transit systems
References
External links
Official website (in Japanese)
Official English Website
Sapporo Public Transport Information (in English)