Ichibata Electric Railway Co., Ltd. is the name of two related, yet different companies in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Ichibata Denki Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha (一畑電気鉄道株式会社) was a railway operator until 2006, when it became a holding company of the Ichibata Group, spinning off its railway division to its newly founded Ichibata Densha Kabushiki-gaisha (一畑電車株式会社). Although the two companies have different names in Japanese, in English they are referred to by the English name of their parent holding company. The company name is often shortened to Bataden.

Lines

Rolling stock

1000 series

In 2014, four former Tokyu 1000 series intermediate cars (1453, 1403, 1455, and 1405) were resold to the Ichibata Electric Railway, and reformed as two 2-car 1000 series sets with the addition of new cab ends. These entered service on 9 February 2015.

Formations

Car identities

The former identities of the fleet are as shown below.

7000 series

, two 7000 series cars (7001 and 7002) were in operation. While all cars carry the same basic livery of white with orange stripes on the upper and lower body, each car has a different theme and colouring on the ends and body sides.

Fleet details

Former rolling stock

The last 3000 series set was withdrawn following its final run on 22 January 2017, and scrapped in February 2017.

History

Kita Matsue Line

The Ichibata Light Railway (一畑軽便鉄道) was founded on 6 April 1912. The company opened the line from Izumo Imaichi Station (出雲今市駅) to Unshuhirata on 29 April 1914, with services hauled by steam locomotives. The line was extended to Ichibata Station (later closed) on 4 February 1915. Electric trains began operating on the line from 1 October 1927, following electrification of the line at 1,500 V DC. The line was extended to the then-named Kita-Matsue Station (北松江駅) on 5 April 1928. Driver-only operation commenced on 20 February 1997.

Taisha Line

The 8.3 km line from Kawato Station (on the Kita-Matsue Line) to Izumo Taisha-mae Station opened in 1930, following its electrification at 1,500 V DC.