Sagami Railway is one of the core companies of the Sotetsu group. Sotetsu focuses on railway operations, although formerly it had a more diversified set of holdings, such as bus lines and supermarkets. Sotetsu is the smallest company of the "Big 15" railways in Japan, as it has only short lines, but it succeeded in developing towns along its lines in the 1960s and 1970s, with many passengers ride this line. In May 1990, Sotetsu joined the major railways. In 2010 it had a daily ridership of 623,500[1]
Lines
Sotetsu Lines (dark blue) in the railway network around Yokohama
The company operates three passenger (commuter) lines and a freight-only line. All lines are electrified.
700 series 2-car EMUs modified in 2006 from 7000 series for use as an inspection and rescue train
An 8000 series EMU in revised livery in October 2020
A 9000 series EMU in revised color scheme in October 2020
A 10000 series EMU in October 2020
A 11000 series EMU in May 2021
A 12000 series EMU in October 2020
A 20000 series EMU in October 2020
A 700 series inspection and rescue train
Further 20000 series trains will be delivered ahead of the start of inter-running services to and from Tokyu Corporation lines scheduled to commence in late fiscal 2022.[4]
Some withdrawn rolling stock is preserved at Kashiwadai depot.
2000 series EMU car 2005
6000 series EMU cars 6001 and 6021
ED10 electric locomotive No.11
Jinchu Railway Class 3 steam locomotive
Jinchu Railway Class Ha20 coach
Preserved Jinchu Railway steam locomotive and coach
2000 series in September 2009
2100 series
5000 series in February 2009
6000 series cars in revised color scheme awaiting scrapping in June 1993
Preserved 6000 series car in original livery in June 2009
Class ED10 electric locomotive
A 7000 series EMU in original livery October 2008
A New 7000 series EMU in revised livery in October 2020
History
The Sagami Railway was established in Chigasaki, Kanagawa, in January 1917, to transport gravel along the Sagami River valley. The first section, between Chigasaki and Samukawa was opened in 1919, and the line was extended gradually to Hashimoto in 1931.[5] Sagami Railway started direct operation to Hachioji, but performance was sluggish during the economic depression, so Sagami Railway became a subsidiary of Tokyu in 1941.
The Jinchu Railway was established in Seya village (now, Seya-ku, Yokohama) in 1917, and opened its first section from Futamatagawa to Atsugi in May, 1926. Jinchu Railway extended to Yokohama Station in 1933, but its management had financial difficulties, so the company also became a subsidiary of Tokyu in 1939, prior to Sagami Railway. The two companies' rail lines were connected at Atsugi Station.[citation needed]
In April 1943, Sagami Railway took over Jinchu Railway and named two lines "Sagami Line" (original section) and "Jinchu line" (acquired section). However, in June 1944, the Sagami Line and Nishi-Samukawa branch line were purchased by the government to use the bypass between Tokaido main line and Chuo main line. At the same time, Imperial Japanese Navy Atsugi Airport was opened, so the number of passengers and amount of freight increased sharply. As a result, Sagami Railway released all management and delegated it to Tokyu. Under Tokyu, the line gained electrification to increase the carrying capacity and in 1944, all passenger lines were electrified.[citation needed]
In June 1947, Sagami Railway employees bought their own shares from Tokyu and resolved the commission.[citation needed]
In 1952, Sagami Railway purchased the 25,000 m2 of land around Yokohama Station's west entrance from Esso, and began to develop to attract department stores.[citation needed]
The Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line is an approximately 6 km link, which is constructed from Nishiya via Hazawa yokohama-kokudai to Shin-Yokohama. This new line will enable through services between the JR East Saikyō Line and the Sōtetsu Main Line by late 2019, as well as between the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line, the Tōkyū Meguro Line & Toei Mita Subway Line and the Sōtetsu Main Line by March 2023. Sōtetsu's network will be joined to JR, Tōkyū and Toei Subway, towards the center of Tokyo Metropolis.
^私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. pp. 82–83. ISBN978-4-330-70116-5.
^相鉄20000系，2月11日から営業運転を開始 [Sotetsu 20000 series to enter revenue service from 11 February]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
^都心直通用新型車両「20000系」を導入 [New 20000 series trains to be introduced on Tokyo through-running services] (PDF). News letter (in Japanese). Japan: Sotetsu. 5 June 2017. Archived(PDF) from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
‡ indicates rapid transit operators § indicates semi-major rail operators *Not a member of Associations of Private Japanese Railways, therefore excluded under the formal Japanese definition, although its comparable size is undisputed
