Etsumi-Nan Line
Nagaragawa Railway Nagara 3 Series train
A Nagaragawa Railway Nagara 3 series train
Overview
Native name越美南線
StatusOperational
OwnerNagaragawa Railway
LocaleGifu Prefecture, Japan
Termini
Stations38
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Nagaragawa Railway
Rolling stockNagaragawa Railway Nagara 2 Series DMU, Nagaragawa Railway Nagara 3 Series DMU, Nagaragawa Railway Nagara 500 Series DMU
History
Opened5 October 1923
Technical
Line length72.1 km (44.8 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNot electrified
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)

The Etsumi-Nan Line (越美南線, Etsumi Nansen, "Etsumi South Line") is a railway line in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, operated by the third-sector operator Nagaragawa Railway (長良川鉄道, Nagaragawa Tetsudō). The line connects Mino-Ōta Station in Minokamo with Hokunō Station in Gujō. It is the only railway line operated by the Nagaragawa Railway. The line was originally operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR).

History

Construction

The original goal of Japanese National Railways (JNR) was to build a railway line to the Sea of Japan northward through the Nagara River valley. However, due to the resource requirements of the First World War and the Pacific War, this objective was never achieved and only 72.1 km (44.8 mi) was ever built. The first section to open was between Mino-Ōta and Minoshi on 5 October 1923. The JNR then proceeded to extend the line progressively northwards until it reached Hokunō in 1934. Although a ¼-mile section of track was laid beyond Hokunō, no further construction on the line was ever undertaken. The line was used by trolley cars. Freight services ceased in 1974.

The picturesque line is now popular with visitors and tourists. Beginning in April 2016, a two-car sightseeing train Nagara (ながら), which was created by industrial designer Eiji Mitooka, runs weekly services between Mino-Ota and Hokunō. Passengers are served a selection of bento dishes created from locally-sourced seasonal ingredients from Gifu Prefecture.[1]

Recent history

JNR planned to connect the Etsumi-Nan Line and Etsumi-Hoku Line ("Etsumi North Line"), but the plan was never realized. The north line was later succeeded by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), while the south line was taken by Nagaragawa Railway, a newly founded third-sector company, in 1986. As the company name suggests, the line runs along Nagara River. As a consequence of Japan's declining population and frequent natural disasters (such as typhoons and heavy snowfall), the company is facing financial difficulties.

Starting spring 2016, two of the line's Nagara 300 series diesel cars are scheduled to be rebuilt as a Nagara sightseeing train. The rebuilding work on the two cars will be overseen by Don Design Associates, headed by industrial designer Eiji Mitooka.[2]

Stations

No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations		 Total
0 Mino-Ōta 美濃太田 - 0.0
Minokamo Gifu
1 Maehira-Kōen 前平公園 1.7 1.7  
2 Kamono 加茂野 2.0 3.7  
3 Tomika 富加 2.2 5.9   Tomika, Kamo District
4 Seki-Tomioka 関富岡 2.3 8.2   Seki
5 Seki-guchi 関口 1.5 9.7  
6 Sekiterasumae せきてらす前 1.5 11.2  
7 Seki 関 0.8 12.0  
8 Seki-Shiyakusho-mae 関市役所前 1.0 13.0  
9 Seki-Shimouchi 関下有知 1.6 14.6  
10 Matsumori 松森 1.5 16.1   Mino
11 Minoshi 美濃市 1.6 17.7  
12 Umeyama 梅山 1.1 18.8  
13 Yunohora-Onsen-guchi 湯の洞温泉口 3.5 22.3  
14 Suhara 洲原 2.4 24.7  
15 Hanno 母野 1.4 26.1   Gujō
16 Konno 木尾 1.2 27.3  
17 Yasaka 八坂 2.1 29.4  
18 Minami-Kodakara-Onsen みなみ子宝温泉 1.2 30.6  
19 Ōya 大矢 1.2 31.8  
20 Fukuno 福野 1.1 32.9  
21 Minami-Kariyasu 美並苅安 1.9 34.8  
22 Akaike 赤池 1.5 36.3  
23 Fukado 深戸 2.2 38.5  
24 Aioi 相生 4.5 43.0  
25 Gujō-Hachiman 郡上八幡 3.9 46.9  
26 Shizen'en-mae 自然園前 4.0 50.9  
27 Yamada 山田 3.1 54.0  
28 Tokunaga 徳永 1.9 55.9  
29 Gujō-Yamato 郡上大和 1.4 57.3  
30 Mamba 万場 2.4 59.7  
31 Kami-Mamba 上万場 1.4 61.1  
32 Ōnaka 大中 1.3 62.4  
33 Ōshima 大島 1.9 64.3  
34 Mino-Shirotori 美濃白鳥 1.8 66.1  
35 Shirotori-Kōgen 白鳥高原 3.5 69.6  
36 Hakusan-Nagataki 白山長滝 1.3 70.9  
37 Hokunō 北濃 1.2 72.1  

See also

References

  1. ↑ "長良川鉄道 ながら 川風号 運転". www.tetsudo.com. 20 March 2018.
  2. ↑ 長良川鉄道，観光列車「ながら」を導入 [Nagaragawa Railway to introduced "Nagara" sightseeing train]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
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