Seibu Yamaguchi Line
The Yamaguchi Line of Seibu Railway is a manually-driven rubber-tyred people mover that runs between in Higashimurayama, Tokyo and in Tokorozawa, Saitama in Japan. The line has an official nickname Leo Liner, after 'Leo', the hero of Kimba the White Lion, who is also the mascot of Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team. The line is the only people mover that is operated by one of Japan's major private railway companies.
History
In 1950, the predecessor of the line opened as an attraction ride called Fantasy Train, running through the amusement area developed by Seibu Railway and its allies. Battery-powered locomotives were used at the time, running on gauge track. In 1952, it legally became a train line, with the official name Seibu Yamaguchi Line. In 1984, the steam and battery powered railway closed for the line to be converted to a people mover. The next year, the new people mover line opened, mostly along the same route.Rolling stock
Current
From the opening of the people mover line in 1985, the line has operated three 4-car trains.Future
On January 22, 2025, Seibu Railway and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries both announced a new order for 3 x 4-car trains to replace the 8500 series. Designated as the L00 series, the first of these sets is expected to enter service in March 2026.The trains, to be built between and 2025 and 2027, will "boost capacity and improve passenger convenience" and "respond to diverse passenger needs through the addition of wheelchair spaces, children's seats, and information displays". The trains will consist mostly of longitudinal seats, instead of the transverse seats fitted to the 8500 series, to maximise capacity during baseball games and concerts at Belluna Dome. The first trainset will represent the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team, with the interior featuring the team's colours and the exterior of the first car will have a large image of the line's mascot Leo.
Services
All services on the Seibu Yamaguchi Line are Local trains, stopping at all stations., services run every 20-30 minutes. The line operates between approximately 7am and 10:30pm every day, with a running time of 7-8 minutes.
During major sporting events and concerts at venues along the line, trains operate every 10 minutes with trains passing on the single-track line at where a passing loop is installed.