Sagami Railway
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Native name
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相模鉄道株式会社 |
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kabushiki kaisha | |
Genre | Rail transport |
Founded | November 1964 |
Headquarters | 2-9-14 Kitasaiwai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan |
Area served
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Kanagawa |
Services | Passenger railway |
Owner | Sotetsu holdings (100%) |
Number of employees
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1,117 (As of September 16, 2009) |
Website | http://www.sotetsu.co.jp |
The Sagami Railway Co Ltd (相模鉄道株式会社 Sagami Tetsudō Kabushikigaisha?), or Sotetsu (相鉄?), is a railway company operating three lines in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It ranks last of the 15 largest railways in Japan.
Contents
Overview
Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) is one of the core companies of the Sotetsu group. Sotetsu focuses on railway operations, although formerly it had a more diversified set of holdings, such as bus lines and supermarkets. Sotetsu is the smallest company of the "Big 15" railways in Japan, as it has only short lines, but it succeeded in developing towns along its lines in the 1960s and 1970s, so many passengers ride this line. In May 1990, Sotetsu joined the major railways. In 2010 it had a daily ridership of 623,500[1]
History
In January 1917, Sagami Railway KK was established at Chigasaki, Kanagawa to transport gravel along the Sagami River valley. The first section, between Chigasaki and Samukawa was opened in 1919, and the line was extended gradually to Hashimoto in 1931.[2] Sagami Railway started direct operation to Hachioji, but performance was sluggish during the economic depression, so Sagami Railway became a subsidiary of Tokyu in 1941.
Jinchu Railway KK was also established at Seya village (now, Seya-ku, Yokohama) in 1917, and opened its first section from Futamatagawa to Atsugi in May, 1926. Jinchu Railway extended to Yokohama Station in 1933, but its management had financial difficulties, so the company also became a subsidiary of Tokyu in 1939, prior to Sagami Railway. The two companies' rail lines were connected at Atsugi Station.
In April 1943, Sagami Railway took over Jinchu Railway and named two lines "Sagami Line" (original section) and "Jinchu line" (acquired section). However, in June 1944, Sagami Line and Nishi-Samukawa branch line were purchased by the government to use the bypass between Tokaido main line and Chuo main line. At the same time, Imperial Japanese Navy Atsugi Airport was opened, so the number of passengers and amount of freight increased sharply. As a result, Sagami Railway released all management and delegated it to Tokyu. Under Tokyu, the line gained electrification to increase the carrying capacity and in 1944, all passenger sections was electrified.
In June 1947, Sagami Railway employees bought their own shares from Tokyu and resolved the commission.
In 1952, Sagami Railway purchased the 25,000 ㎡ land around Yokohama Station's west entrance from Standard Oil company, and began to develop to attract department stores.
Lines
The company operates two passenger (commuter) lines and a freight-only line. All lines are electrified.
Passenger
- Main Line from Yokohama Station in Yokohama to Ebina Station in Ebina via Futamatagawa Station in Yokohama, 18 stations, 24.6 km
- Izumino Line from Futamatagawa Station in Yokohama to Shōnandai Station in Fujisawa, 8 stations, 11.3 km
Freight
- Atsugi Line (厚木線 Atsugi-sen?) in Ebina
Rolling stock
Numbering
from 2000 series EMU to 10000 series EMU, cars number is separated its function. But 11000 series don't keep this law. Point is last three figure of body number.
- 000: These cars have controller and motor.
- 100, 200 and 300: These cars have motor.
- 500: This car has controller direction for Ebina and Shonandai.
- 600: This car is trailer non motor and non controller.
- 700: This car has controller. But direction for Yokohama.
Current
- 7000 and New 7000 series and EMU (introduced 1975)
- 8000 series EMU (introduced 1990)
- 9000 series EMU (introduced 1993)
- 10000 series EMU (introduced 2002)
- 11000 series EMU (introduced 2009)
- 700 series EMU - Remodeled 7000 series. For test and rescue train. (introduced 2006)
Past
EMUs
- 1000 series
- 2000 and 2100 series EMU (introduced 1951)
- 6000 and New 6000 series EMU (introduced 1961)
- 3000 series EMU (introduced 1951)
- 5000 series EMU (introduced 1955)
Locomotives
- ED10 electric locomotive
Preserved cars
Some of past cars are preserved at Kashiwadai depot.
- 2000 series EMU - No.2005
- 6000 series EMU - No.6001 and No.6021
- ED10 electric locomotive - No.11
- Jinchu Railway Class 3 steam locomotive
- Jinchu Railway Class ハ20 coach
Proposed connection with Tokaido Freight Line
The Sagami Railway and the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency are jointly planning a 2.7 km new line, called the Sotetsu JR Link Line (相鉄JR直通線 Sōtetsu JR Chokutsū-sen?), connecting Nishiya Station on the Sōtetsu Line with the Tokaido Freight Line. The line, expected to be completed by 2015, will enable direct passenger services from Sōtetsu lines to Shinjuku Station in central Tokyo via the Yokosuka Line.[3]
References
- ↑ http://www.train-media.net/report/1110/soutetsu.pdf
- ↑ 『相鉄七十年史』相模鉄道
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sagami Railway. |
- Sotetsu Group (Japanese)
- English part of official site (English)
- Sotetsu Lines history (site for kids) (Japanese)