The Joshin Line (上信線) is a Japanese railway line in Gunma Prefecture, between Takasaki Station in Takasaki and Shimonita Station in Shimonita, operated by the private railway operator Joshin Electric Railway (上信電鉄). This is the only line operated by the company, although it also operates a few bus lines. The first section of the line opened in 1897.

Rolling stock

, the following rolling stock is used on the line. The 1000 and 6000 series EMUs purchased new are unusual in having the driver's seat on the right-hand side facing the direction of travel.

History

The line opened on 10 May 1897, as a gauge steam-hauled railway line from Takasaki to Fukushima (present-day Jōshū-Fukushima), operated by the Kōzuke Railway (上野鉄道). The entire line to Shimonita was opened on 25 September in the same year. The line was planned to be extended southward from Shimonita to connect with the Saku Railway (present-day Koumi Line) at Haguroshita, and the owning company was accordingly renamed Joshin Electric Railway (上信電鉄) from 25 August 1921. The line was ultimately never extended, but the track was regauged to and electrified with an overhead wire at 1,500 V DC. Freight operations on the line were discontinued from 1 October 1994. On 30 November 2003, Takasaki Fairy Land which was a leisure complex being established as "Kappa Pia" in 1961 was discontinued. In this leisure complex, "NAKASONE FESTIVAL" was held during summer because "Matsugoro Nakasone" who is a father of Yasuhiro Nakasone was a CEO of Joshi Electric Railway.

Stations