- Source: Utsunomiya Light Rail
The Utsunomiya Light Rail (宇都宮ライトレール, Utsunomiya raitorēru) is a light rail transit (LRT) line serving the Utsunomiya metropolitan area in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The 14.6 km line links Utsunomiya, the capital city of Tochigi, with the nearby town of Haga, running between Utsunomiya Station East (36°33′31″N 139°53′57″E), a tram stop in front of the East Exit of Utsunomiya Station in central Utsunomiya, and Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park (36°34′43″N 140°00′42″E) in Haga.
The line is operated by the third-sector railway operator Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd. [ja] (:宇都宮ライトレール株式会社, Utsunomiya raitorēru Kabushiki-gaisha) and is officially known as the Utsunomiya Light Rail Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line (宇都宮ライトレール宇都宮芳賀ライトレール線), although there are no other light rail lines in Utsunomiya.
History
The project was based on the “New Transportation System Concept” proposed in 1993 to relieve traffic congestion, and the introduction of LRT was finalized in 2001. After many years of research and discussion, the project was officially launched in 2013. Construction started in 2018, with a target opening date of March 2022, but it was eventually moved back to March 2023. This date was later further postponed to August 26, 2023. On April 3, 2023, ten round trips a day of driver proficiency training using the new light rail vehicles began.
On November 19, 2022, an LRT train derailed during a trial run. There were no injuries.
The line started operation on August 26, 2023. Utsunomiya became the first city in Japan to have a new tram system in 75 years after Takaoka, Toyama.
On September 13, 2024, just over a year after opening, the line reached a milestone of 5 million passengers, 20% more than forecast.
Services
Almost all trains are "Local (各駅停車, Kakueki Teisha)" trains that stop at all stations. On weekdays, trains are operated at intervals of 6 to 8 minutes during rush hours (approximately from 6 to 9 and from 5 to 7 pm on weekdays), and at intervals of 12 minutes during other off-peak hours (except during the above-mentioned times on weekdays and holidays). The service is available from 4:00 to 24:00 on weekdays and from 5:00 to 23:00 on weekends and holidays.
The train schedule is aligned with that of the Tōhoku Shinkansen, which arrives at and departs from Utsunomiya Station, and connects with the first train on the same line bound for Tokyo Station and the last train arriving at Utsunomiya Station.The time required from the Utsunomiya Station East, the starting point of the train, to the Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park, the ending point, is approximately 44 minutes on weekday schedules and 48 minutes on holiday schedules.
On weekday mornings, an "Express (快速, Kaisoku)" train is available in addition to the local train for the Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park direction only. Express trains stop at Utsunomiya Station East, Utsunomiya University Yoto Campus, Hiraishi, Seiryo High School, and each station from Seiryo High School to Haga and Takanezawa Industrial Park, while other stations are not served.
Fares are based on distance and range from 150 yen to 400 yen for adults one-way. Fares can be paid in cash or by Nationwide Mutual Usage Service-compliant IC cards (Suica, PASMO, and the “totra” IC card issued in Utsunomiya, etc.). When paying with cash, passengers receive a “numbered ticket” from a ticket machine located at the stop, board from the front door of the first car, and disembark from the front door of the first car after inserting the numbered ticket and fare into the fare box. IC card users can board and alight from any door, and touch their card to the IC card reader next to the door when boarding and alighting.
There are also feeder buses that connect to areas outside the rail line from Utsunomiya Station East, Utsunomiya University Yoto Campus, Kiyohara District Civic Center, Haga Industrial Park Management Center, which can be used in combination with trains.
Rolling stock
The line is served by the Utsunomiya Light Rail HU300 series, branded LIGHTLINE. Niigata Transys built and delivered 17 sets of three-section low-floor light rail vehicles.
Stations
All stations are located in Tochigi Prefecture.
Local services stop at all stations.
Express services stop at stations marked ●, and pass stations marked ↓.
Future Extension Concept
It has been decided to extend the line from its current starting point at Utsunomiya Station East to the Tochigi Education Center (ja:栃木県教育会館, Tochigi-ken Kyōiku Kaikan) (36°34′25″N 139°51′19″E), 5 km to the west via Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station, in the 2030s.
The basic plan for the Utsunomiya light rail line has been decided for the line to extend from Utsunomiya Station to Sakura-Dōri-Jūmonji (36°33′54″N 139°52′03″E) (Sakura 2 intersection on National Route 119), 3 km away, via Ōdōri avenue (main street of Utsunomiya) that runs through downtown Utsunomiya, in addition to the section east of Utsunomiya Station, which is currently in operation. In addition, Utsunomiya City office has studied the possibility of extending the line further, and has decided to extend it 2 km further west from Sakura-Dōri-Jūmonji to the Tochigi Education Center in 2022. The line is located in the center of Utsunomiya City and schools are located along it, so commuter demand is expected, and the line is expected to serve as a transportation axis connecting the east and west sides of Utsunomiya and revitalize the city center. It is also envisioned to extend the line further west from the Tochigi Education Center to the vicinity of the Ōya Quarry site, a major tourist attraction in Utsunomiya.
See also
List of light-rail transit systems
List of urban rail systems in Japan
List of railway lines in Japan
List of railway companies in Japan
References
This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
External links
Official website (in Japanese)
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