Lightline to open on 26 August

Japan’s first new tramway city for 75 years will open on 26 August, when the Lightline system opens in Utsunomiya (population 520 000). 

 

This 14.6km 1067mm-gauge line from the Railway Station (East Entrance) to Saga Takanezawa Industrial Park has been under construction since May 2018 (project approval was in September 2016), and was originally planned to open in March 2022, but construction delays caused a postponement. 

 

17 three-section 29.5m double-ended low-floor trams have been delivered by NiigataTransys, with bogies supplied by Bombardier. 

 

The 2.65m wide cars can carry 160 passengers (50 seated) and run at up to 70km/h. Delivery started at the end of May 2021. 9.4km of the line is street track, the remainder segregated, and the end-to-end running time will be 44 minutes (some limited stop services will achieve this in 37 minutes).  

 

There are plans to extend the line under the JR tracks by about 5 km into the western suburbs.