Kanto Railway Ryugasaki Line - Route Data

The Kanto Railway Ryugasaki Line is a line connecting 4.5 km from Sanuki Station in Ryugasaki city, Ibaraki Prefecture, and also to Ryugasaki station in Ryugasaki city. It opened in 1900 and there is 3 stations.

Ride report

I got on from the first Sanuki station from Ryugasaki station at the last point. The first Saike station was a connecting station with the JR Joban Line, and in front of the station commercial facilities and houses were lining up and it seemed to be a lively. The train that I got on was a one-line (1-car train), and it was a one-man operation that conductor does not ride on. Although I got on the car at about 10 am, the number of passengers was about 5 to 6, and a sparse impression was seen. As I left Sanuki Station, the train ran for a while while running in a residential area. And then, it quickly took a brake when I thought that the car window could be opened at once. The train arrives at the only intermediate station, Ireji station. The Ireji station was a small station which had a waiting room and a short home, but two passengers got on. When departing the entrance station, the train rushed through the countryside in one side and then arrived at the terminal point · Ryugasaki station. At Ryugasaki station, about 10 to 20 passengers waited for the return to Sanuki, and during this time of the day, it seemed that the demand for Ryugasaki → Sanuki was more active than demand for Sanuki → Ryugasaki. In front of Ryugasaki station, there was a bus roundabout and a railway · bus garage, so there was a kind of key point of transportation atmosphere. However, it can be said that commercial facilities were desolated places because most of shops are closed or there were few customers.

Consideration

Mode of opretaion

There is a monotonous operation schedule that goes back and forth between Sanuki and Ryugasaki. There are 3 trains every hour in the morning and evening for 1 to 2 trains every hour during the day and as usual, train is one car. However, it would be connected with another car and becomes a two-car formation operation during the weekday morning and evening hours. Moreover, in the morning and evening hours, operation schedule works together with the JR Joban line connecting at Sanuki station and the Kanto railway bus connecting with Ryugasaki line. In this way, it could be said that Kanto railway Ryugasaki line’s operation schedule focuses on commuting or going to school.

Vehicle

3 vehicles are enrolled. Since Ryugasaki line is a non-electrified route (a line that electricity does not pass), the vehicles are not electric cars but a diesel one (cars running with an engine). The Kiha 2000 type which is 2 of the 3 cars is a new car manufactured in 1997, they are good at fuel economy and simplicity of operation. The other one, Kiha 532 type is an old car made in 1981 based on the design of old car of the National Railway Company, but the engine has been replaced, so it has performance which is as good as the new diesel car.

Signifficant efforts

One-one operation

Ryugasaki Line is the first railway which operate train by one person, it started in 1971. The cars are designed for one-person operation specially. Compared with other railway companies, I thought that the rationalization was earlier and more rational.

Cycle train

A service that allows people to bring a bicycle into the train is being carried out. Because it is the main line of school use, I thought that it was a pretty good policy considering bicycle commuting demand.

Impression

I was able to perceive that Kanto Railway is good at some measures; rapid rationalization, buying efficient new cars and so on. Therefore, I thought that Kanto railway can maintain regional transport efficiently.