The is a Japanese railway line connecting Kiryū Station in Kiryū, Gunma and Matō Station in Nikkō, Tochigi. This is the only railway line that the third-sector company operates. The company and line are also known as or . The company acquired the line from the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in 1989. As the name suggests, the line runs along the Watarase River through a deep valley.
History The Ashio Railway Co. opened the line to Ashio-Motoyama ( beyond Mato) in 1911–12 to service the Ashio Copper Mine, and leased the line to JNR in 1913. Passenger services were introduced in 1914. In 1918 the line was nationalised.
The copper mine closed in 1973, the same year the line was deviated for the construction of the Kusaki Dam, including the Kusaki Tunnel.
Operation of the line between Kiryū and Matō was transferred to the Watarase Keikoku Railway, a third-sector company, in 1989. Also in 1989, the Ashio-MotoyamaMato section was closed.
Basic data Distance: Gauge: Stations: 17 Double-tracking: None Electrification: None Railway signalling: Kiryū — Shimo-Shinden: Automatic Shimo-Shinden — Matō: Simplified Automatic
Station list Trains stop at stations marked "●" and pass those marked "｜". Local trains stop at all stations (other than Shimo-Shinden Signal Box).
Station No. Station JapaneseWatarase Keikoku-gō TransfersLocation 桐生 East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Ryōmō LineJōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line ()KiryūGunma 下新田 相老※Tōbu Railway: Kiryū Line 運動公園｜Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line () 大間々●Tōbu: Kiryū Line ()Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line (Akagi) Midori 上神梅｜ 本宿｜ Kiryū 水沼● 花輪｜ Midori 中野｜ 小中｜ 神戸● 沢入● 原向｜ NikkōTochigi 通洞● 足尾● 間藤
References
External links
Watarase Keikoku Railway official website