Seibu Chichibu Line

Seibu Chichibu Line
A Seibu Chichibu Line 4000 series train
Overview
Native name西武秩父線
OwnerSeibu Railway
LocaleKanto region
Termini
Stations6
History
Opened14 October 1969; 55 years ago (1969-10-14)
Technical
Line length19.0 km (11.8 mi)
Number of tracksSingle-track
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC (overhead catenary)
Operating speed105 km/h (65 mph)

The Seibu Chichibu Line (西武秩父線, Seibu Chichibu-sen) is a railway line in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, operated by Seibu Railway. It is an extension of the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, and connects Agano Station and Seibu-Chichibu Station.

Stations

Abbreviations here are for the table below and are not formally used.[1]

  Local (各停, Kakutei) Stops at all stations.

  S-Train (エストレイン, Esutorein) (ST)

See also: S-Train (Seibu)

Morning and evening reserved-seat services between Seibu-Chichibu and Motomachi-Chūkagai via the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line and Minatomirai Lines on weekends.

  Limited Express (特急, Tokkyū) (LE): Trains named Chichibu (ちちぶ), from Ikebukuro to Seibu-Chichibu, with supplementary limited express charge.

Despite the Seibu Chichibu Line only spanning Agano to Seibu-Chichibu, all trains operate through service to the Seibu Ikebukuro Line via Agano Station until at least Hannō Station.

No. Station Japanese Distance (km)
to Ikebukuro 		ST LE Transfers Location
SI31 Agano 吾野 57.8 | | Seibu Ikebukuro Line Hannō Saitama
SI32 Nishi-Agano 西吾野 61.4 | |  
SI33 Shōmaru 正丸 64.1 | |
SI34 Ashigakubo 芦ヶ久保 70.2 | *[Note 1] Yokoze, Chichibu
District
SI35 Yokoze 横瀬 74.2 | O
SI36 Seibu-Chichibu 西武秩父 76.8 O O Chichibu Railway Main Line (Ohanabatake Station) Chichibu

[2] Notes:

  1. ^ Trains do not stop except for certain periods of the year, such as around Golden Week and late July.

History

The entire line was opened on October 14, 1969, after over two years of construction, considerably shortening the travel time between Chichibu and Tokyo. Twenty years later, on April 1, 1989, a connection opened to the Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Main Line, and through service began. On March 28, 1996, freight services between Higashi-Yokoze freight terminal and Shin-Akitsu (on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line) ceased. On March 12, 2003, "wanman" (one man) driver only operation began. Until March 8, 2020 there were two Rapid Express round trips from Ikebukuro bound for Nagatoro and Mitsumineguchi.[3]

References

  1. ^ "電車・駅のご案内". Seibu (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  2. ^ https://www.seiburailway.jp/railway/ikebukuro_rosenzu.pdf (This reference represents the "Stations" section.)
  3. ^ https://railf.jp/news/2020/03/09/180819.html Abolition of Rapid Express service between Ikebukuro and Chichibu Main Line (in Japanese)