Seibu Chichibu Line

Seibu Chichibu Line
A Seibu Chichibu Line 4000 series train
Overview
Native name	西武秩父線
Locale	Kanto region
Termini	Agano Seibu Chichibu
Stations	6
Operation
Opened	October 14, 1969
Owner	Seibu Railway
Technical
Line length	19.0 km (11.8 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC, overhead catenary

The Seibu Chichibu Line (西武秩父線 Seibu Chichibu-sen) is a railway line in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, operated by Seibu Railway. It is an extension of the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, and connects Agano Station and Seibu-Chichibu Station.

Stations

• Agano
• Nishi-agano
• Shōmaru
• Ashigakubo
• Yokoze
• Seibu-Chichibu

Seibu-Chichibu Station is within walking distance of Ohanabatake Station on the Chichibu Main Line. Some trains operate though to the Chichibu Main Line.

All trains go via Agano Station to the Seibu Ikebukuro line. All trains except limited express trains stop at all stations, limited express trains only at Yokoze and Seibu-Chichibu, some also at Ashigakubo.

History

The entire line was opened on October 14, 1969, after over two years of construction, considerably shortening the travel time between Chichibu and Tokyo. Twenty years later, on April 1, 1989, a connection opened to the Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Main Line, and through service began. On March 28, 1996, freight services between Higashi-Yokoze freight terminal and Shin-Akitsu (on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line) ceased. On March 12, 2003, "wanman" (one man) driver only operation began.

References

This article incorporates material translated from 西武秩父線 (Seibu Chichibu-sen) in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on September 2, 2010.