In March 31, 2005 Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) abandoned their tramway lines in Gifu area. Nagoya Railway, famous regional rail operator in Nagoya metropolitan area, had 600v electrified streetcar lines in Gifu. These lines were named , "Minomachi Line","Tagami Line","Ibi Line","Gifu shinai Line".

gifumap2.gif (35.55 KB; downloaded 468 times)

Map of Gifu tramway lines(Minomachi line, Tagami line, Gifu Shinai line, Ibi line)
Dotted line: Abandoned Nagoya Railroad 600v lines before 2005.


Preservation action vs destruction policy    

Gifu was a one of the main commercial center of central Japan. But its importance in retail market became decline, especially downtown mall. Shopping center on suburb or department store in Nagoya city have absorbed many shoppers from Gifu downtown mall. Declines of Gifu downtown affect Gifu tram lines. Gifu tram lines radiated from city's downtown. It is not connect shopping center on suburb and to transfer Shin Gifu station is not convenient way to go to Nagoya.
Low speed became serious problem, too. Thorough train from Ibi line to Gifu Ekimae took about 20 minute their 3.7km street running on Chusetsu-Gifu Ekimae. Most of residents became using automobile to go to sopping center, their office or JR, which they can go to Nagoya much faster, via JR station.
Patronage declined drastically on 1970-1990, but Gifu has 400,000 population. Rehabilitation or new line construction might give a chance to attract new passenger. Although Gifu tramways earned deficit, its operator -Wealthy Nagoya Railway company- invested for its modernization. Nagoya Railroad constructed Tagami Line in 1970 and purchase new LRV's. But it did not lead remarkable change. In 2004 Nagoya Railway company decided to discontinue all these lines.
Gifu municipal government discussed to buy property. But if city bought tram line, the city have to spend the money to cover operating deficit. Not like US or European country, subsidy for operating deficit is not common in Japan. Even public-owned subway, subsidize to operating loss is not permitted on usual condition(Subsidy of subway provide for construction in Japan). Municipal government considered city owned tramway, but soon gave up this idea.
Shortly after the city gave up preservation, "Foreign Pressure" came on. Connex (Veolia Transport), international transport contractor in France, offered Gifu municipal government tramway operation. It lead a controversy in Japan. But there has some distance Japanese people and Connex in dealing transportation company. Most Japanese people hoped Connex to operate Gifu tram line without subsidy, but Connex was premised on subsidy. The negotiation soon failed inconclusively.
Some citizens developed preservation movement, but it haven't became larger. Finally all lines discontinue in Apr. 1 2005.


1. Minomachi Line

Gifu2.jpg (19.26 KB; downloaded 467 times)

Gifu(Gifu Tetsumei Cho)-Seki 18.8km    
This line connects Gifu city, Seki City(2005 population 94,000). Once it connects Mino City(2000 population 24,000), too. This line was a kind of interurban. It had street running and rode-sided private right of way. And had express operation (from 1970 to 1975).
Before 1970, Minomachi line's terminal in Gifu is Gifu Tetsumei Cho. Passengers from Nagoya Railroad main line or Kokutetsu (Japan National Railway) Tokai line had to change trains twice. To avoid this inconveniences, Nagoya Railroad began to construct Tagami Line for thorough operation to Shin Gifu. Shin Gifu is Nagoya Railroad main line terminal and only apart from 1 blocks Kokutetsu Gifu Station.
Speed limit of this line is only 40km per hour and Gifu-Seki train takes about 1 hour (express train slightly faster). This was a reason to discontinue this line.

<History>    
Jan. 11 1911 Gifu(Gifu Yanagase)-Minomachi(26.5km) opened by Mino Electric Tramway
Aug. 20 1930 Mino Electric Railway absorbed Nagoya Railroad
Jun. 25 1970 By using Tagami and Kagamigahara line, thorough operation to Shin Gifu was started.
Apr. 1 1999 Shin Seki-Minomachi(About 6km) abandoned.
Shin Seki-Seki(0.3km) upened for transfer Nagaragawa Railway in Seki station.
Apr. 1 2005 All route abandoned.


2. Tagami Line

Tagami-Keirinjyomae 1.4km
This line built for connect Minomachi line and Kagamihara line to Shin Gifu station. Kagamihara line is Meitetsu's regional rail line and 1500v electrified so train through minomachi line to Kagamihara line had 1500v DC. 600v DC. converter. Ichinotsubo, only intermideate stop this line, had shops for tramway cars for Gifu Shinai line and Minomachi line.    

<History>    
Jun. 25 1970 Opened.
Apr. 1 2005 Abandoned.


3. Gifu Shinai Line

Gifu5.jpg (31.74 KB; downloaded 467 times)

Gifu Ekimae-Chusetsu 3.7km
"Gifu Shinai Line" means inner city line of Gifu. This line run Gifu downtown and connect Gifu JR(Japan railway company) station to Chusetu. Before 1989 there has a line north to Nagara Kitamachi. Line to Chusetsu was only a branch line. After 1990's most train thorough operation to Ibi Line.
Because of thorough operation to Ibi line, Gifu Shinai line had express operation in midday hours.    

<History>    
Feb. 11 1909 Gifu Ekimae-Yanagase opened.
Nov. 20 1915 Yanagase-Nagara Kitamachi opened.
1925 Tetsumeicho-Chusetsu(Chusetsu Bridge) opened.
Jul. 1 1953 Thorough operation to Ibi line started.
Jun. 1 1988 Tetsumeicho-Nagara Kitamachi abandoned because of Gifu Future Expo.
Apr. 1 2005 All route abandoned.


4. Ibi Line

Gifu6.jpg (23.28 KB; downloaded 467 times)

Chusetsu-Kurono 12.8km
This line was not a true tramway line. In Japan tramway is defined by "Tramway Law", but Ibi line constructed by "Regional Railway Law", so it resemble other Meitetsu regional lines, except 600v electrified.
This line used heavy wooden or steel car like a Nagoya Railroad main line in pre war era. But for thorough operation, these car replaced new right rail vehicle until 1998.
This line also had express operation. Express train thorough Gifu Shinai line passed smaller stops. This line was hevily constructed but not suitable for express operation. Nagoya Railroad prefer to have express operation even as amaller lines. Ibi line's express might be follow this tradition.

<History>    
Mar. 29 1914 Chusetsu-Minokitakata opened.
Apr. 6 1926 Minokitakata-Kurono opened.
Dec. 20 1928 Kurono-Honibi opened.
Dec. 17 1967 Thorough operation to Gifu Ekimae via Gifu Shinai line had started. Oct. 1 2001 Kurono-Honnibi abandoned.
Apr. 1 2005 All route abandoned.


5. Abandoned lines before 2005

Tanigumi Line
Kurono-Tanigumi 11.2km 1926-2001

Kagamishima Line
Sennjyudou(between Tetsumeicho and Chusetsu)-Nishi Kagamishima 4.4km 1924-1964

Takatomi Line
Nagarakitamachi-Takatomi 5.3km 1913-1960

Source: https://usrail.jp/er-japan-gifu.htm

Unul dintre cele 5 vagoane fabricate in 1926, no. 513, este restaurat si expus in fata garii JR Gifu.

Fotografii realizate pe data de 1 iunie 2024.

...

Autobuze in Gifu