Azumada Main Line is a tram line in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan operated by Toyohashi Railroad. It connects Ekimae (situated in front of the JR and Meitetsu Toyohashi Station) to Akaiwaguchi and Ihara (one stop from Akaiwaguchi) to Undoukoen-mae. The line is referred to as Toyo-Tetsu Shinaisen by Toyohashi Railroad. The railroad also operated another tram line, the Yagyu-bashi Branch Line, prior to 1976.
Overview
The entire line is a street running tram line and is often called the Shinaisen or the shiden (both meaning city tram).
Although some sections ceased operations during the 1970s much like many other tram lines in the era, a new branch line between Ihara and Undokoen-mae was opened in 1982. In 1998, Ekimae stop was moved to its current location, extending the line by . In 2005, a new station by the name of Ekimae-odori was created between Ekimae and Shinkawa.
Since 1989, most tramcars excluding type T1000 and Mo3000 have had full-body advertisements.
After the closure of the Meitetsu Gifu City Line (Gifu) and Minomachi Line (Gifu, Seki, Mino) on 1 April 2005, the Azumada Main Line has been the only tram line in Tokai region.
Basic Data
Line length: Ekimae - Akaiwaguchi , Ihara - Undoukoen-mae
Track gauge: 1067mm
Stations: 14 (including termini) Double track: Ekimae - Keirinjo-mae Single track: Keirinjo-mae - Akaiwaguchi, Ihara - Undoukoen-mae Electrification: 600 V DC overhead line Signaling (single track sections): automatic block signaling
Between Fudaki and Higashi-haccho, the line runs on the National Route 1. Azumada Main Line being the only tram line that currently runs on the route.
The curve at Ihara where the line to Undoukoen-mae branches has a radius of . This is the sharpest railway curve in Japan and is known as the Ihara Curve.
Fares
As of 1 October 2019, Azumada Main Line has a flat rate fare system, with the adult fare being 180 yen and the child fare 90 yen. The proximity card manaca and other such cards compatible with it such as TOICA and Suica can be used to pay the fares. Fares are collected on the passenger's entry onto the tramcar. A transfer is required to go from Undokoen-mae to Akaiwaguchi and vice versa, but there is no discounted joint fare. A one-day pass is also available at 500 yen.
Operations
During the daytime, trams operate every 7 minutes between Ekimae and Ihara, with the origin/destination alternating between Akaiwaguchi and Undoukoen-mae. During rush hour, additional trams are operated between Ekimae and Keirinjo-mae, shortening the minimum interval to five minutes. As the tram depot is situated in Akaiwaguchi, most late night services head to Akaiwaguchi. Additional trams are also operated during occasions such as festivals in the town and professional baseball matches at the stadium located close to Undokoen-mae stop.
When there are no passengers getting on or off, trams can pass stops.
Special Trams
On the Azumada Main Line, several special trams are operated every year. Mo3100 car 3102 (retired March 2018) had been used for these trams, but since 2010, Mo3200 car 3203 is used.
Below is a list of major special trams.
Beer Tram
Two return trips between Ekimae and Undokoen-mae are operated from June to August. Reservation is required. Decorated Tramcar A decorated tramcar (花電車) is operated for around one week before the Toyohashi Festival in October. Although most decorated tramcars in Japan do not allow passengers to board, the decorated tramcar on the Azumada Main Line is operated as a normal tram service. Odensha Odensha is a special tram service on which oden, a Japanese pot dish popular in the winter, is served. The name is a play-on-words that combines the dish name oden with densha, meaning "train" in Japanese. One return trip on weekdays and two return trips on weekends are operated from November to February between Ekimae and Undokoen-mae. The service started in 2007 as a winter version of the beer tram. The name "Odensha" is a registered trademark of Toyohashi Railroad and in March 2015, "Odensha in Okayama" was operated on the Okayama Electric Tramway with Toyohashi Railroad's cooperation.
Facilities
The line's depot is located at Akaiwaguchi. Before the extension to Akaiwaguchi in 1960, the depot was situated in Azumada. The site is now used as a pharmacy.
A siding that can park two tramcars exists in Keirinjo-mae, next to which the office for the line stands. During the daytime, drivers change at this stop and in the evening rush hour, the tramcars parked here are also used.