Toyama Chihō Railway Toyamakō Line

The Toyamakō Line (富山港線, Toyamakō-sen) is a tram line operated by Toyama Chihō Railway in the city of Toyama, the capital of Toyama Prefecture. Trams commences at Toyamaeki, beneath Toyama Station, and travels north to Iwasehama in a town of the Toyama Port on Sea of Japan.[1]

Not to be confused with Toyama City Tram Line.
Toyama Chihō Railway Toyamakō Line
A "Portram" car, introduced on the conversion to light rail
Overview
LocaleToyama, Japan
TerminiToyama-Eki
Iwasehama
Stations13
Service
TypeLight rail
History
OpenedJuly 23, 1924 (original)
April 29, 2006 (converted to light rail)
Technical
Line length7.6 km (4.7 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification600 V DC
Operating speed60 km/h (37 mph) (rail line)
40 km/h (25 mph) (tram line)
Newly built Awajima Station
Map of Toyama tram lines

The line is regarded as the first fully converted or constructed "light rail transit" (LRT) in Japan. Whilst other Japanese "LRTs" involve light rail rolling stock operating on original infrastructure, the "Portram" utilises new rolling stock on fully renovated infrastructure.

It has an official nickname "Portram'", after "port" (Toyama Port) and "tram".

Description

Also see the route diagram.

  • Distance: 7.85 km
    • Toyama-Eki – Okudachūgakkō-mae
      • under Tram Act, 1.35 km
    • Okudachūgakkōmae – Iwasehama
      • under Railway Business Act: 6.5 km
  • Stations: 14
  • Track: single
    • Doubling is planned at a short section of Okudachūgakkō-mae – east of Hatta bridge
  • Railway signalling: automatic
  • Depot: at Jōgawara

History

The Toyamakō Line was built as a heavy railway line by the private Fugan Railway (富岩鉄道, Fugan Tetsudō) in 1924; it was electrified with 600 V DC overhead catenary. In December 1941, the company transferred the line to Toyama Electric Railway (富山電気鉄道, Toyama Denki Tetsudō), which was renamed to the Toyama Chihō Railway in 1943. The line was nationalized in June 1943 by Imperial Japanese Government Railways due to line's importance as a freight and materiel route to the port of Toyama.[1]

The Japanese National Railways (JNR) modified the Toyamakō Line's electrification system to 1500 V DC, the last to be altered among JNR lines acquired from private companies. When JNR was privatized in 1987, the line became part of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) network. During the time JR West operated the Toyamakō Line (which ended on 28 February 2006) it suffered a long period of declining passengers and the resulting reduction in service. The Toyama Light Rail Company, a public-private partnership with the Hokuriku Electric Power Company, Intec, and the municipal and prefectural governments as major shareholders, was set up to own and operate the line. It was modified for light rail services and reopened on April 29, 2006, returning it to service under a Toyama-based company after half a century of outside management.

Prior to the line's transfer in 2006, patronage was 1,700 passengers on weekdays and fewer than 750 on weekends. Under Toyama Light Rail ownership, the line proved to be surprisingly successful: 12,750 people rode the line on the first day. By November 9, 2006, one million passengers had used the line.

Since March 21, 2020, with the completion of a north south tram link across Toyama Railway Station, Portram services will through operate into the Toyama City Tram system.[2]

Services

Approximately six services are operated in each direction per hour in the morning, 4 in the daytime to evening, 2 in the late night. Services typically through operate into the Toyama City Tram system.

The fare is JPY 200 for an adult, 100 for a child per ride, reduced to 160 for an adult and 80 for a child when using the Passca, a smart card ticketing system. Citizens of the city of Toyama over 65 years old are entitled to pay JPY 100 per ride in the daytime with the "Silver Passca".

"Feeder bus" services are provided at Hasumachi and Jōgawara.

Rolling stock

Nicknamed "Portram", differently coloured 7 formations of TLR0600 type manufactured by Niigata Transys using Bombardier Transportation design, engineering, and technology, were introduced to the line.

Former
475 series on the Toyamakō Line, February 2006
  • 72 series (from 1967 until 1985)
  • 457/471/475 series (from 1985 until 2006)
  • 413 series (until 2005)

Stations

All stations are in the city of Toyama, Toyama Prefecture. For distances and connections, see the route diagram.

The naming rights of two stations were sold (shown by *), of four which were on sale.

See also

References
  1. Nogi, Yoshihiro (March 2010). "Toyama: Japan's leading light". Tramways & Urban Transit. Addlestone, Surrey: Light Rail Transit Association and Ian Allan Pub. 73 (867): 90–93. ISSN 1460-8324. LCCN 98641628. OCLC 38265072.
  2. "富山市・富山地方鉄道・富山ライトレール，2020年3月21日から路面電車の南北接続を開始 〜運行形態や運賃などの概要を発表〜｜鉄道ニュース｜2019年11月6日掲載｜鉄道ファン・railf.jp". 鉄道ファン・railf.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
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