The is a private railway

Private railway

A private railroad is a railroad run by a private corporation, as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector.-Japan:In Japan, refers to a railway line owned and operated by private sector. Although Japan Railways Group companies are private entities, they are not considered private railways...

 based in Nagano

Nagano, Nagano

, the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers, on the main Japanese island of Honshū.As of April 1, 2011 the city has a population of 387,146...

, Japan. The company and its lines are commonly referred to as .

History

Nagano Electric Railway consists of two lines in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...

. The original Nagano Electric Railway was built in 1926 connecting Gondō in Nagano City with Suzaka. Later that year, the company absorbed the operations of Katō Railway, who operated a line on the east bank of the Chikuma River running from Yashiro

Yashiro Station

is a railway station of Shinano Railway and Nagano Electric Railway, located in Ojima, the city of Chikuma, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-Lines:*Shinano Railway**Shinano Railway Line*Nagano Electric Railway**Yashiro Line-Layout:...

 through Suzaka to Kijima. The next year in 1927, an additional line was constructed from Shinshū-Nakano to Yudanaka, and the following year the Gondō terminus was extended to Nagano Station

Nagano Station

is a railway station in the city of Nagano in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.This station is used by East Japan Railway , Japan Freight Railway and Nagano Electric Railway .-Lines:*East Japan Railway Company...

. The segment from Nagano to Zenkōjishita was converted to an underground railway in 1981, and in 2002 the segment from Shinshū-Nakano to Kijima was abandoned due to lack of demand.

The Nagano Line is the main line, with frequent local and express services. It is a major route for commuter traffic in Nagano City and also serves as a link for tourists going to the town of Obuse

Obuse, Nagano

is a town located in Kamitakai District, Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 11,317 and a density of 593.45 persons per km². The total area is 19.07 km²....

, the hot springs at Yudanaka, and the ski resorts at Shiga Kōgen. The Yashiro Line (formerly the Katō Line) services are local only and infrequent compared to the Nagano Line since the area is more sparsely populated. Although both lines meet at Suzaka Station, there are no through services for either line.

On 25 March 2011, the Nagano Electric Railway announced that the Yashiro Line would close from 1 April 2012.

Railway lines

■ Nagano Line: Nagano — Suzaka — Shinshū-Nakano — Yudanaka

■ Yashiro Line (24.5 km): Yashiro — Suzaka (scheduled to close on 1 April 2012)

Rolling stock

• 1000 series 4-car EMUs (2 sets)

Ex-Odakyū 10000 series HiSE

Odakyu 10000 series HiSE

The EMU operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway in the Tokyo area of Japan.-Lines used:The 10000 HiSE travels mainly between Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station .-Transfer:...

 sets for Limited express

Limited express

A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...

 "A" (Yukemuri) services. Entered service from 9 December 2006.

• 2000 series
  Nagano Electric Railway 2000 series
  The is a DC electric multiple unit train type operated by the Nagano Electric Railway in Japan since March 1957. The last remaining set in service is scheduled to be withdrawn in August 2011.-Formations:The sets are/were formed as follows....
  
   3-car EMUs

For Limited express "B" services. (1957–August 2011)

• 2100 series
  Nagano Electric Railway 2100 series
  The is a DC electric multiple unit train type operated by the Nagano Electric Railway in Japan on Snow Monkey limited express services since 26 February 2011, replacing the remaining ageing 2000 series trains....
  
   3-car EMUs (2 sets)

Ex-253 series

253 series

The is a DC electric multiple unit operated by East Japan Railway Company . It was introduced on 19 March 1991 for use exclusively on the Narita Express, a limited express service to and from Narita International Airport...

 sets for Snow Monkey limited express services. Entered service from 26 February 2011.

• 3500 series 2-car EMUs (14 sets) and 3600 series 3-car EMUs (3 sets)

Ex-Eidan 3000 series

Eidan 3000 series

The was an electric multiple unit train type operated on the then TRTA Hibiya Line from 1961 to 1994.This train was fitted with safety systems compatible with the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line and Tōbu Isesaki Line...

 sets for local services. Introduced in 1993.

• 8500 series 3-car EMUs (6 sets)

Ex-Tokyu 8500 series

Tōkyū 8500 series

The is a commuter electric multiple unit type operated by Tokyu Corporation on the Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line and Tōkyū Ōimachi Line in Japan.-Den-en-toshi Line 10-car sets:# DeHa 8600 # DeHa 8700 # SaHa 8900 # DeHa 8800 # DeHa 8700...

sets for local services. Introduced in 2005.