International Railroad Discussion > Japan Trip Part 5 - Yokkaichi's 762mm (2'6") interurban

On my first visit to Japan in 2002 I spent half a day riding the Kintetsu Railway's two narrow-gauge branchlines out of Yokkaichi to Utsube and Nishi-Hino.  These branches were built to 762mm (2'6") gauge, and in 2002 were still semi-rural in character.  So on this visit I wanted to go back and see if they were still operating, and if so, what they looked like.  The big difference between 2002 and 2025 is that the Kintetsu Railway no longer directly operates these lines.  The Yokkaichi Asunarou Railway was formed as what is called in Japan a third-sector railway company, jointly owned by Kintetsu and the Municipality of Yokkaichi.  The rolling stock is the same, Class 260 EMUs, but they are now painted in a variety of bright colors, instead of the rather somber tones used previously by Kintetsu.    Trains run every half an hour on each branch, and so there is a train every 15 minutes on the main stem from Yokkaichi to Hinaga.  In 2002 I rode the whole system, but this time I just rode to Hinaga and photographed there - pix below from both this year and the 2002 trip.   And you can see from the car numbers that I photographed the exact same cars in many cases - 23 years apart!   For Kintetsu fans - a future post will cover the Kintetsu Railway mainlines. 

1)  Train from Utsube to Yokkaichi arriving at the junction at Hinaga.
2)  Train from Yokkaichi to Nishi-Hino arriving at the junction at Hinaga.
3)  Train from Utsube departing after the Nishi-Hino train has cleared the junction.  Nishi-Hino train can be seen in the background.
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/25 09:29 by dwatry.

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4)  Train from Yokkaichi to Utsube arriving at Hinaga.
5)  Terminal at Yokkaichi under the main Kintetsu terminal.
6)  Onboard one of the trains - cars are very narrow, with 1+1 searting.
 

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7)  2002 shot - train for Nishi-Hino taking the branch at Hinaga.  THis is car #163 - same as in shot #5.
8)  2002 shot - Yokkaichi-bound train at Hinaga from Utsube.
9) 2002 shot - train on the Nishi-Hino branch.  This is car #263 - same as in #1 and #3.
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/25 18:01 by dwatry.

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10)  2002 shot - Train on the Nishi-Hino branch.
11)  2002 shot - Kids waiting to board a train for Utsube at Hinaga.

 

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Very NICE and interesting series!

Larry

dwatry Wrote:
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> The big difference between 2002 and 2025 is that
> the Kintetsu Railway no longer directly operates
> these lines. The Yokkaichi Asunarou Railway was
> formed as what is called in Japan a third-sector railway
> company, jointly owned by Kintetsu and the Municipality
> of Yokkaichi.

In a nutshell, for-profit Kintetsu Railway did not want the cost of refurbishing the mini-EMUs and infrastructure to hurt their shareholders. They initially proposed in 2012 to abandon the 762mm lines and convert them to BRT (Bus Rapid Transit).

Kintetsu still makes money operating the mini-EMUs, hence the partnership. 

Thanks for documenting this interesting operation, two decades apart!

Another very enjoyable post in your series -- thank you. How did you get there -- Kintetsu, JR, or ? ?

A question:  I thought the Sangi Railway was involved with this 762 operation.  Was that just for a period when they were perhaps an operator for the municipality, or did they actually take some degree of ownership ?

Newer TO members:  To see the photos of my 1971 visit, just put   Yokkaichi   into the   All Dates search.

With best regards, SZ

Steinzeit2 - I rode the Kintetsu to get to Yokkaichi - future post coming up about the Kintetsu.

Info I have is that the Sangi Railway runs a different 762mm line from Nishi-Kuwana to Ageki, which is near Yokkaichi.  I don't know if they ever had responsibility for the Yokkaichi branches - maybe cchan006 knows. 

dwatry Wrote:
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> Info I have is that the Sangi Railway runs a
> different 762mm line from Nishi-Kuwana to Ageki,
> which is near Yokkaichi.  I don't know if they
> ever had responsibility for the Yokkaichi branches
> - maybe cchan006 knows.

I don't know, so I had to research a bit.

Sangi Railway's 762 mm Hokusei Line used to be owned by Kintetsu, but it started separately from Yokkaichi-Asunaro Railway's Utsube and Hachioji Lines, which as you mentioned were operated by Kintetsu in the past. I guess constructing a 762 mm gauge railroad was a "fad" in the Yokkaichi area?

Hokusei Railway was started in 1925, eventually becoming part of Sangi Railway.

Mie Railroad was started in 1912, eventually becoming Yokkaichi-Asunaro Railway you reported on.

Steinzeit2 Wrote:
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> Newer TO members:  To see the photos of my 1971
> visit, just put   Yokkaichi   into the   All
> Dates search.

Found the report, and enjoyed it. Thanks!