Astram Line
Hiroshima New Transit Line 1 (広島新交通1号線, Hiroshima Shin Kōtsū 1-gō-sen), also known as the Astram Line (アストラムライン, Asutoramurain), is a manually driven people mover operated by Hiroshima Rapid Transit in Hiroshima, Japan. Astram opened on August 20, 1994, for the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima. The line connects central Hiroshima and Hiroshima Big Arch, which was the main stadium of the Asian Games. On March 14, 2015, a new station, Shin-Hakushima, opened to create a second connection between the Astram Line and the JR lines.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2017) |
| Astram Line (Hiroshima Rapid Transit Line 1) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
 A 7000 series train on the Astram Line in December 2019 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Hiroshima Rapid Transit | ||
| Locale | Hiroshima | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 22 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Rubber-tyred metro | ||
| Services | 1 | ||
| Depot(s) | Chōrakuji | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 20 August 1994 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 18.4 km (11.4 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | 2 | ||
| Electrification | Conductor rail, 750 V DC | ||
| |||
Hiroshima New Transit Line 1 (広島新交通1号線, Hiroshima Shin Kōtsū 1-gō-sen), also known as the Astram Line (アストラムライン, Asutoramurain), is a manually driven[1] people mover operated by Hiroshima Rapid Transit in Hiroshima, Japan. Astram opened on August 20, 1994, for the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima. The line connects central Hiroshima and Hiroshima Big Arch, which was the main stadium of the Asian Games.
On March 14, 2015, a new station, Shin-Hakushima, opened to create a second connection between the Astram Line and the JR lines.
History
[edit]Plans to build a new transit system linking the city centre of Hiroshima with the suburban area to the northwest were first proposed in July 1977.[2]
The third-sector railway company Hiroshima Rapid Transit was founded in 1987, funded primarily by the city of Hiroshima.[2] Groundbreaking for the rapid transit line project began on February 28, 1989, and construction would continue over a five-year period.[citation needed] However, on March 14, 1991, 14 people were killed when a girder collapsed on a section of the line's elevated viaduct near the Kamiyasu station's construction site.[3] The line opened for revenue service on August 20, 1994.[2]
When the line originally opened in 1994, it had 21 stations, of which Ōmachi provided the line's only transfer with a JR West line (the Kabe Line). On March 14, 2015, Shin-Hakushima opened as an infill station between Hakushima and Jōhoku in order to provide a transfer point with the Sanyo Main Line.
In January 2025, the line announced fare increases of up to ¥30 per ride. This is the first fare increase (except for the addition of sales tax as sales tax laws changed) in the over 30 years since the line opened in 1994. These fare increases will take effect from October 2025.[4]
Stations
[edit]| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations | Total | ||||
| Hondōri | 本通 | - | 0.0 | ■ Hiroden Ujina Line (at Hondori) | Naka-ku |
| Kenchō-mae | 県庁前 | 0.3 | 0.3 | ||
| Jōhoku | 城北 | 1.1 | 1.4 | ||
| Shin-Hakushima | 新白島 | 0.3 | 1.7 | ||
| Hakushima | 白島 | 0.4 | 2.1 | ||
| Ushita | 牛田 | 0.8 | 2.9 | Higashi-ku | |
| Fudōin-mae | 不動院前 | 1.1 | 4.0 | ||
| Gion-shinbashi-kita | 祇園新橋北 | 1.0 | 5.0 | Asaminami-ku | |
| Nishihara | 西原 | 1.0 | 6.0 | ||
| Nakasuji | 中筋 | 1.0 | 7.0 | ||
| Furuichi | 古市 | 0.8 | 7.8 | ||
| Ōmachi | 大町 | 0.6 | 8.4 | B Kabe Line | |
| Bishamondai | 毘沙門台 | 1.2 | 9.6 | ||
| Yasuhigashi | 安東 | 1.0 | 10.6 | ||
| Kamiyasu | 上安 | 0.8 | 11.4 | ||
| Takatori | 高取 | 0.6 | 12.0 | ||
| Chōrakuji | 長楽寺 | 0.7 | 12.7 | ||
| Tomo | 伴 | 1.2 | 13.9 | ||
| Ōbara | 大原 | 1.0 | 14.9 | ||
| Tomo-chūō | 伴中央 | 1.1 | 16.0 | ||
| Ōzuka | 大塚 | 1.6 | 17.6 | ||
| Kōiki-kōen-mae | 広域公園前 | 0.8 | 18.4 | ||
Rolling stock
[edit]- 6000 series 6-car EMUs (23 sets)
- 7000 series 6-car EMUs (three sets with 11 sets on order)
As of 2021[update], services on the line are operated using a fleet of 23 six-car 6000 series trainsets (sets 01 to 23) and three six-car 7000 series (sets 31 to 33).[5]
The entire fleet of 24 1000 and 6000-series sets is scheduled to be replaced with a new fleet of six-car trains delivered in two batches.[6] The first of 11 new 7000 series sets was delivered in 2019.[7] The first 7000 series set was delivered in October 2019[8] and entered service in March 2020.[5] The lone 1000 series set have since been retired.[5]
6000 series
[edit]
The 6000 series trainsets (01 to 23) are formed as follows, with all cars motored.[9]
| Designation | Mc | M | M | M | M | Mc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbering | 61xx | 62xx | 63xx | 64xx | 65xx | 66xx |
Priority seating is provided in each car, and wheelchair spaces are provided in the end cars.[9]
7000 series
[edit]The 7000 series trainsets (31 to 33) are formed as follows, with all cars motored.[5]
| Designation | Mc | M | M | M | M | Mc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbering | 71xx | 72xx | 73xx | 74xx | 75xx | 76xx |
Priority seating is provided in each car, and wheelchair spaces are provided in the end cars.[5]
Former rolling stock
[edit]1000 series
[edit]The 1000 series trainset (24) was formed as follows, with four of the six cars motored.[9]
| Designation | Tc | M | M | M | M | Tc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbering | 1124 | 1224 | 1324 | 1424 | 1524 | 1624 |
Priority seating was provided in each car, and wheelchair spaces were provided in the end cars.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Schwandl, Robert (2016-04-27). "Robert Schwandl's Urban Rail Blog: JAPAN - Hiroshima Streetcars & Astram". Robert Schwandl's Urban Rail Blog. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ a b c Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 166. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
- ^ "14 Killed as 40-Ton Girder Falls From Hiroshima Monorail". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 1991-03-15. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ "アストラムライン値上げへ 最大30円、10月1日から | 中国新聞デジタル". アストラムライン値上げへ 最大30円、10月1日から | 中国新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2025-01-27. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
- ^ a b c d e 私鉄車両編成表2021 [Private Railway Vehicle Organization Table 2021] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 16 July 2021. p. 181. ISBN 9784330032214.
- ^ "アストラムラインの新型車両の導入について" [Regarding the introduction of new Astram Line vehicles]. astramline.co.jp (in Japanese). 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Hiroshima rubber-tyred light metro train delivered". railwaygazette.com/metro-report. DVV Media International. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ "広島高速交通，7000系を報道陣に公開" [Hiroshima Rapid Transit, 7000 series released to reporters]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. p. 171. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
External links
[edit]
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Map of Hiroshima rail transit network
Stations of the Hiroshima Rapid Transit Astram Line | ||
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Transit in Hiroshima | |
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.svg){kind=logo} JR West | |
| Hiroshima Rapid Transit | |
 Hiroden | |
| Terminals |
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 Bus |
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 Ferries |
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 Cards | |
| Public | |
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| Semi-public | |
| Public-private |
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| Cancelled | |
Source: Japan Subway Association | |
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