Setagaya Line


The Setagaya Line is a light rail line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by Tokyu Corporation. It connects to in Setagaya, Tokyo.
Unlike other Tokyu lines that are heavy rail commuter lines, the Setagaya Line is governed under the Rail transport in Japan#Railway and tram of the Japanese government. Despite this, the entire line is located on its own right-of-way because it is a branch line of Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line, which is not the same line as the present-day Tōkyū Tamagawa Line.

Overview

The Setagaya Line was opened by the Tamagawa Electric Railway in 1923, running on surface streets between Shibuya and the Tama River. Since the railway merged with Tokyu in 1938, the balance of the line closed in 1969, leaving this isolated section as the sole Tokyu line to use gauge.
The Setagaya Line and the Toden Arakawa Line are the only railway lines in Tokyo proper to be legally classified as tramways.
The line had its own smart card system called Setamaru, which cannot be used on other Tokyu lines. Since March 2007, the PASMO contactless card has also been accepted on the Setagaya and other Tokyu lines. The smart card system was abolished and merged with PASMO in 2012.
On the line, there is a pair of themed trains in operation, called the “Kofuku-no-Manekineko Densha”, to honour the Gotoku-ji temple, that is located between the Yamashita and the Miyanosaka stops.

History

The line was opened in 1925 as a branch line of the Tōkyū Tamagawa Line. Most of the Tamagawa line was closed and replaced by subways in 1969, although the line was renamed to Setagaya Line and kept in service. Although most of the line was closed due to it running on roads, causing traffic congestions, Setagaya line barely had any sections running on roads, contributing to it staying open. The line was separated from other lines owned by Tokyu until the Den-en-toshi Line opened in 1977.

Network and operations

Trains service the line from 4am to 0am, with an interval of 5-20 minutes. All trains stop at all stations.

Stations

All stations are located in Setagaya.
No.PictureStationJapaneseDistance Transfers
三軒茶屋0.0 Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line
西太子堂0.3
若林0.9
松陰神社前1.4
世田谷1.8
上町2.2
宮の坂2.7
山下3.4Odakyū Odawara Line
松原4.2
下高井戸5.0 Keiō Line

Ridership

Reference:
No.StationPassengers
Sangen-jaya124,990
Nishi-taishidō734
Wakabayashi7,606
Shōin-jinja-mae9,531
Setagaya7,592
Kamimachi8,814
Miyanosaka4,002
Yamashita7,784
Matsubara3,113
Shimo-takaido16,566