Utsunomiya Light Rail

Light rail line in Utsunomiya, Japan

For the commuter rail lines in the area with the same name, see Utsunomiya Line (disambiguation).

Utsunomiya Light Rail

Utsunomiya Light Rail HU300 series "Lightline"

Overview
Other name(s)| Haga Utsunomiya LRT
Native name| 宇都宮ライトレール
Status| Operational
Owner| Utsunomiya City and Haga Town
Locale| Utsunomiya and Haga,
Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Termini|

* Utsunomiya Station East
* Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park

Stations| 19
Website| https://www.miyarail.co.jp/index.html
Service
Type| Light rail
Operator(s)| Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd.
Rolling stock| HU300 series
History
Opened| 26 August 2023; 23 months ago (2023-08-26)
Technical
Line length| 14.6 km (9.1 mi)[1]
Number of tracks| Double track
Track gauge| 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification| 750 V DC[1]
Operating speed| 40 km/h (25 mph)[2]

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Utsunomiya Station East

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  | Higashi-Shukugo
|  |

|  | Ekihigashi Park
|  |

|  | Mine
|  |

|  | Yoto 3-chome
|  |

|  | Utsunomiya University Yoto Campus
|  |

|  | Hiraishi
|  |

|  |

Depot

|  |

|  | Hiraishi-chuo Elementary School
|  |

|  |

Kinugawa River

|  |

|  | Tobiyama Castle Site
|  |

|  | Seiryo High School
|  |

|  | Kiyohara District Civic Center
|  |

|  | Green Stadium
|  |

|  | Yuinomori-west
|  |

|  | Yuinomori-central
|  |

|  | Yuinomori-east
|  |

|  | Hagadai
|  |

|  | Haga Industrial Park Management Center
|  |

|  | Kashinomori Park
|  |

|  | Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park
|  |  |  |  |  |

This diagram:

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Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd.

Headquarters Office and Train yard control building (August 25, 2023)

Native name

| 宇都宮ライトレール株式会社

Romanized name

| Utsunomiya raitorēru Kabushiki-gaisha
Company type| Public (kabushiki gaisha)
Industry| Private railroad
Founded| November 9, 2015 (2015-11-09)
Headquarters| 3110, Shimo-Hiraide-machi, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture,

Japan

Area served

| Tochigi Prefecture
Owner|

* Utsunomiya City office 40.80%
* Tochigi Lightrail supporting holders 22.80%
* Kantō Transportation 11.00%
* Haga Town Office 10.20%
* The Ashikaga Bank Ltd.5.00%
* The Tochigi Bank Ltd.5.00%
* Tobu Railway 4.00%
* The Utsunomiya Chamber of Commerce and Industry 1.00%
* Haga Town commerce and industry committee 0.20%

Website| www.miyarail.co.jp

The Utsunomiya Light Rail (宇都宮ライトレール, Utsunomiya raitorēru) is a light rail transit (LRT) line serving the Utsunomiya metropolitan area [ja] in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The 14.6 km line links Utsunomiya, the capital city of Tochigi, with the nearby town of Haga, running between Utsunomiya Station East, a tram stop in front of the East Exit of Utsunomiya Station in central Utsunomiya, and Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park in Haga.

The line is operated by the third-sector railway operator Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd. [ja] (:宇都宮ライトレール株式会社, Utsunomiya raitorēru Kabushiki-gaisha) and is officially known as the Utsunomiya Light Rail Utsunomiya Haga Light Rail Line (宇都宮ライトレール宇都宮芳賀ライトレール線), although there are no other light rail lines in Utsunomiya.

## History

[edit]

The project to develop a light rail line in Utsunomiya was conceived because of the need to alleviate serious traffic congestion.[3]

Since the 1960s, when Japan's economy grew dramatically (Japanese economic miracle) , large industrial areas such as Hiraide Industrial Park and Kiyohara Industrial Park were developed in the eastern part of Utsunomiya City, and as many as 30,000 employees came to work there.[4] However, these industrial parks were far from the center of Utsunomiya, and it was necessary to cross the Kinugawa River to access them, so traffic congestion became serious around the limited bridges that crossed the Kinugawa River due to passenger cars driven by commuters and trucks transporting raw materials and products.[3] This is because Tochigi Prefecture is one of the most motorized regions in Japan, and has the highest dependence on automobiles for transportation in this country, so most residents have lived a life that relies on automobiles for transportation.[3] Due to serious traffic congestion, it can take more than an hour to travel 10 to 15 kilometers from the center of Utsunomiya to the industrial parks, and it became a serious social problem that required an immediate solution.

In addition, in the Utsunomiya metropolitan area, the Tōhoku Main Line, a railway trunk line, runs north-south from Utsunomiya Station, but there has never been a railway line running east-west. This weakened the east-west regional axis, and the Tōhoku Main Line divided the north and south of the city. Because the center of Utsunomiya is west of Utsunomiya Station, the limited means of transportation other than railways, bus routes, are also concentrated on the west side, and many areas on the east side have difficulty accessing public transportation, let alone bus routes.[3]

In order to fundamentally solve these problems, the idea of developing a Monorail connecting the east and west sides of Utsunomiya was proposed by Utsunomiya City office in 1987,[5] but it was not realized. In 1993, the then governor of Tochigi Prefecture came up with the "New Transportation System Concept" to develop a new transportation system connecting Utsunomiya and industrial areas, and serious consideration began for the first time.[4]

In addition to Tochigi Prefecture, Utsunomiya City also participated in the study of the concept, and in 2001 it was decided that the new transportation system would be light rail, and in 2003 a plan was presented for a line that would connect the east and west sides of Utsunomiya City beyond Utsunomiya Station. However, the project did not progress for a long time, as it was not profitable and conflicts of opinion between Utsunomiya City Hall, the Tochigi Prefecture Governor, and Kantō Transportation (Local bus company) made it difficult to commercialize the project. However, the situation changed dramatically when the government announced a policy of providing generous subsidies for the development of light rail lines, and the Kantō Transportation changed hands due to a management crisis and became more supportive of the project, and in 2013 Utsunomiya City officially decided to develop a light rail line.[3]

Construction started in 2018, with a target opening date of March 2022, but it was eventually moved back to March 2023.[6] This date was later further postponed to August 26, 2023.[7] On April 3, 2023, ten round trips a day of driver proficiency training using the new light rail vehicles began.[8]

On November 19, 2022, an LRT train derailed during a trial run. There were no injuries.[9]

The line started operation on August 26, 2023. Utsunomiya became the first city in Japan to have a new tram system in 75 years after Takaoka, Toyama.[10]

On September 13, 2024, just over a year after opening, the line reached a milestone of 5 million passengers,[11] 20% more than forecast.[12]

## Project Overview

[edit]

### Compact city project

[edit]

Conceptual map of Compact city project in Utsunomiya

Many regional cities in Japan are suffering from population decline and aging, and Utsunomiya City is no different. Utsunomiya City has been undergoing disorderly development for many years, and urban functions have been dispersed, so it is expected that maintaining urban functions will become difficult as the population decline and aging progresses. To address this issue, Utsunomiya City is promoting the creation of a "Network-based Compact city"(NCC)[4] that aims to maintain regional communities and urban functions by consolidating urban functions in each region and connecting the regions with a public transportation network.[13]

The Utsunomiya Light Rail serves as a public transportation axis that runs through Utsunomiya City from east to west, connecting regions and functioning as the center of the public transportation network, playing an important role in the development of a compact city.[4]

### Route maintenance and operation entity

[edit]

Based on the Japanese law “Act on Revitalization and Reproduction of Regional Public Transportation,” the local governments, Utsunomiya City and Haga Town, own the operating facilities such as tracks, stops and rolling stock. Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd was established as a joint venture between the local government and companies (Third-sector railway company) to operateing renting facilities from local governments.[14]

Half of the construction cost is subsidized by the government, with the local government bearing the remaining half.[14]

### Total design

[edit]

Since ancient times, the Utsunomiya area has had a climate where there is a lot of thunder in the summer, and it has also been known as "Raito"（雷都, "Thunder City"）. As such, lightning was used as the motif for the design, and under the concept of "From Thunder City to the future - Creating a future mobility city through LRT- ", a "total design" initiative was implemented to enhance clarity and appeal by giving the vehicles and facilities a unified design based on a unified concept for the facilities. The reasons for choosing lightning were that it has “universality” that makes it enduring and indestructible, “uniqueness” that shows the uniqueness of Utsunomiya City and Haga Town, and “expandability” that can be reflected in the design of a variety of facilities. The image color is yellow, inspired by the color of lightning, and is used for the logo, vehicles, and route color. [4][15]

On the wall of each stop, “individualized design” is displayed, which is based on the total design and expresses the local climate and culture with the participation of local residents.[15]

## Services

[edit]

List of stops (as of August 2024)

Almost all trains are "Local (各駅停車, Kakueki Teisha)" trains that stop at all stations. On weekdays, trains are operated at intervals of 6 to 8 minutes during rush hours (approximately from 6 to 9 and from 5 to 7 pm on weekdays), and at intervals of 12 minutes during other off-peak hours (except during the above-mentioned times on weekdays and holidays). The service is available from 4:00 to 24:00 on weekdays and from 5:00 to 23:00 on weekends and holidays.[16] The train schedule is aligned with that of the Tōhoku Shinkansen, which arrives at and departs from Utsunomiya Station, and connects with the first train on the same line bound for Tokyo Station and the last train arriving at Utsunomiya Station.The time required from the Utsunomiya Station East, the starting point of the train, to the Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park, the ending point, is approximately 44 minutes on weekday schedules and 48 minutes on holiday schedules.[17]

On weekday mornings, an "Express (快速, Kaisoku)" train is available in addition to the local train for the Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park direction only. Express trains stop at Utsunomiya Station East, Utsunomiya University Yoto Campus, Hiraishi, Seiryo High School, and each station from Seiryo High School to Haga and Takanezawa Industrial Park, while other stations are not served.[18]

Fares are based on distance and range from 150 yen to 400 yen for adults one-way.[17] Fares can be paid in cash or by Nationwide Mutual Usage Service-compliant IC cards (Suica, PASMO, and the “totra” IC card issued in Utsunomiya, etc.). When paying with cash, passengers receive a “numbered ticket” from a ticket machine located at the stop, board from the front door of the first car, and disembark from the front door of the first car after inserting the numbered ticket and fare into the fare box. IC card users can board and alight from any door, and touch their card to the IC card reader next to the door when boarding and alighting.[19]

There are also feeder buses that connect to areas outside the rail line from Utsunomiya Station East, Utsunomiya University Yoto Campus, Kiyohara District Civic Center, Haga Industrial Park Management Center, which can be used in combination with trains.[20]

## Infrastructure

[edit]

### Rolling stock

[edit]

The line is served by the Utsunomiya Light Rail HU300 series [ja], branded LIGHTLINE. Niigata Transys built and delivered 17 sets of three-section low-floor light rail vehicles.[21] The train was awarded the Laurel Prize by the Japan Railfan Club in 2024.[22] New sets of HU300 series are planned to be introduced in the future, although cost hikes have affected the plan.[23]

A HU300 series train (21 August 2023)

### Stations

[edit]

* All stations are located in Tochigi Prefecture.
* Local services stop at all stations.
* Express services stop at stations marked ●, and pass stations marked ↓.

No  | Station  | Japanese  | Distance (km)  | Express  | Transfers  | Location

|
|
|
|
|
|

Between
stations  | Total
01  | Utsunomiya Station East | ja:宇都宮駅東口停留場 | –  | 0.0  | ●  |  JR East (Utsunomiya Station)

* Tōhoku Shinkansen
* JS Shōnan–Shinjuku Line
* JU Utsunomiya Line
* ■ Nikkō Line
* ■ Karasuyama Line

| Utsunomiya
02  | Higashi-Shukugo | ja:東宿郷停留場 | 0.4  | 0.4  | ↓  |
03  | Ekihigashi Park | ja:駅東公園前停留場 | 0.4  | 0.8  | ↓  |
04  | Mine | ja:峰停留場 | 0.7  | 1.5  | ↓  |
05  | Yoto 3-chome | ja:陽東3丁目停留場 | 0.6  | 2.1  | ↓  |
06  | Utsunomiya University Yoto Campus | ja:宇都宮大学陽東キャンパス停留場 | 0.7  | 2.8  | ●  |
07  | Hiraishi | ja:平石停留場 | 0.9  | 3.7  | ●  |
08  | Hiraishi-chuo Elementary School | ja:平石中央小学校前停留場 | 0.5  | 4.2  | ↓  |
09  | Tobiyama Castle Site | ja:飛山城跡停留場 | 1.9  | 6.1  | ↓  |
10  | Seiryo High School | ja:清陵高校前停留場 | 1.3  | 7.4  | ●  |
11  | Kiyohara District Civic Center | ja:清原地区市民センター前停留場 | 0.8  | 8.2  | ●  |
12  | Green Stadium | ja:グリーンスタジアム前停留場 | 0.8  | 9.0  | ●  |
13  | Yuinomori-west | ja:ゆいの杜西停留場 | 1.7  | 10.7  | ●  |
14  | Yuinomori-central | ja:ゆいの杜中央停留場 | 0.5  | 11.2  | ●  |
15  | Yuinomori-east | ja:ゆいの杜東停留場 | 0.5  | 11.7  | ●  |
16  | Hagadai | ja:芳賀台停留場 | 0.7  | 12.4  | ●  |  | Haga
17  | Haga Industrial Park Management Center | ja:芳賀町工業団地管理センター前停留場 | 0.5  | 12.9  | ●  |
18  | Kashinomori Park | ja:かしの森公園前停留場 | 0.9  | 13.8  | ●  |
19  | Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park | ja:芳賀・高根沢工業団地停留場 | 0.7  | 14.5  | ●  |

## Future extension concept (Sections in the West side of Utsunomiya Station)

[edit]

It has been decided to extend the line from its current starting point at Utsunomiya Station East to the Tochigi Education Center (ja:栃木県教育会館, Tochigi-ken Kyōiku Kaikan) (36°34′25″N 139°51′19″E﻿ / ﻿36.57361°N 139.85528°E﻿ / 36.57361; 139.85528), 5 km to the west via Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station, in the 2030s.[24]

The basic plan for the Utsunomiya light rail line has been decided for the line to extend from Utsunomiya Station to Sakura-Dōri-Jūmonji (36°33′54″N 139°52′03″E﻿ / ﻿36.56500°N 139.86750°E﻿ / 36.56500; 139.86750) (Sakura 2 intersection on National Route 119), 3 km away, via Ō-dōri avenue (main street of Utsunomiya) that runs through downtown Utsunomiya, in addition to the section east of Utsunomiya Station, which is currently in operation.[25] In addition, Utsunomiya City office has studied the possibility of extending the line further, and has decided to extend it 2 km further west from Sakura-Dōri-Jūmonji to the Tochigi Education Center in 2022.[26] The line is located in the center of Utsunomiya City and schools are located along it, so commuter demand is expected, and the line is expected to serve as a transportation axis connecting the east and west sides of Utsunomiya and revitalize the city center. It is also envisioned to extend the line further west from the Tochigi Education Center to the vicinity of the Ōya Sightseeing area, a major tourist attraction in Utsunomiya.[26]

### Stations list in extension section (Considering)

[edit]

* All stations names are Tentative name.
* Information as of February 2024.
* All Station points are located in Utsunomiya.

Stations list[24][26] Japanese Name | Rōmaji
Meanings in English(Lower tier) | Transfers | Main Facilities near the station

|
|
|

| Currently opened section (Towards Haga Takanezawa Industrial Park)
宇都宮駅東口
(Currently) | Utsunomiya-eki Higashiguchi
(Utsunomiya Station East) | JR Lines (Utsunomiya Station), Route Buses |
JR宇都宮駅西口 | JR Utsunomiya-eki Nishiguchi
(JR Utsunomiya Station West entrance) |
上河原 | Kamigawara |  |
宮島町十文字 | Miyajimachō-Jūmonji |  |
馬場町 | Babachō |  | Utsunomiya Futarayama Shrine
県庁前 | Kenchō mae
(Prefectual office) |  | Tochigi Prefectual office
Tochigi Prefecture Cultural Center
Utsunomiya City office
東武宇都宮駅前 | Tōbu-Utsunomiya-eki mae
(Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station) | Tōbu Utsunomiya Line, Route Buses | Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station and Department store
Orion Street mall
裁判所前 | Saibansho mae
(Courthouse) |  | Utsunomiya District Court
新川 | Shinkawa |  |
桜通り十文字 | Sakura-Dōri-Jūmonji | Route Buses |
美術館前 | Bijutsukan mae
(Art museum) |  | Tochigi Prefectual Museum of Fine Arts
護国神社前 | Gokoku Jinja mae
(Gokoku Shrine) |  | Tochigi Gokoku Shrine
Sakushin Gakuin High School
Utsunomiya Bunsei Girls High School
教育会館前 | Kyōiku Kaikan mae
(Education Center) |  | Tochigi Education Center
Concere (Tochigi Prefectual Youth Hall)

## See also

[edit]

* Companies portal
* Trains portal
* Japan portal

* List of light-rail transit systems
* List of urban rail systems in Japan
* List of railway lines in Japan
* List of railway companies in Japan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Project Shiryou utsunomiya.tochigi.jp
2. ^ "宇都宮ライトレール株式会社".
3. ^ a b c d e Hirotaka Koike. "宇都宮市のLRT －これまでとこれから" [LRT in Utsunomiya － Looking Back the Past and Exploring the Future] (PDF). Utsunomiya Kyōwa University City Life Studies (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 January 2024.
4. ^ a b c d e "Haga Utsunomiya LRT (LIGHTLINE) Business overview" (PDF). Utsunomiya City office. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
5. ^ "JR宇都宮駅をはさむ交通手段 東西結ぶ3ルート模索 モノレールなどの構想も" [Transportation around JR Utsunomiya Station Exploring 3 routes connecting east and west Concepts such as monorail]. The Shimotsuke Newspaper. 13 August 1987. p. 4.
6. ^ "宇都宮ライトレールの開業がさらに延期か？…交通量が多い交差点での工事が難航" [Utsunomiya Light Rail's Opening to be Further Delayed? ...Construction work at a busy intersection encountered difficulties]. news.yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese). 4 June 2022. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022.
7. ^ "3月1日からライトラインの試運転(第二弾)が開始されます".
8. ^ "4/3～ 習熟運転を開始します".
9. ^ "Next-generation tram derails during trial run". 19 November 2022.
10. ^ "Japan's 1st new tram system in 75 years starts operating north of Tokyo". Kyodo News. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
11. ^ "宇都宮LRT、500万人達成 開業から384日目 予想より早く". 毎日新聞.
12. ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Utsunomiya tram's rejuvenation achievements a model for other cities". Kyodo News+.
13. ^ "ネットワーク型コンパクトシティ形成ビジョン" [Network type Compact City formulation fision] (PDF). Utsunomiya City Office. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
14. ^ a b 芳賀・宇都宮基幹公共交通検討委員会 (21 November 2013). 東西基幹公共交通（LRT）の取組状況等について (PDF) (Report). Utsunomiya City office. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
15. ^ a b "LRTデザインの検討状況について" (PDF) (in Japanese). Utsunomiya City office. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
16. ^ "宇都宮駅東口 時刻表" [Time table of Utsunomiya Station East] (in Japanese). Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
17. ^ a b "LRTについて" [Abouts LRT] (in Japanese). Utsunomiya City office. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
18. ^ "「ダイヤ改正」について" [Abouts "Change Timetable"] (PDF) (in Japanese). Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
19. ^ "LRT(ライトライン)のご利用方法" [How to take the LRT(LIGHTLINE)] (in Japanese). Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
20. ^ "令和5年8月27日（日曜日）にバス路線が変わりました" [Bus route was changed at August 27 2023 (Sunday)] (in Japanese). Utsunomiya City office. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
21. ^ "First Lightline tram arrives". Metro Report International. 1 June 2021.
22. ^ "2024年 ブルーリボン・ローレル賞選定車両 – 鉄道友の会". www.jrc.gr.jp. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
23. ^ "栃木の宇都宮LRT、車両追加へ価格7割高の衝撃 増発・検査視野". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 26 February 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
24. ^ a b "駅西側ライトライン延伸について" [Abouts LIGHTLINE Extension towards Station West Side] (in Japanese). Utsunomiya City office (MOVENEXT web site). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
25. ^ "東西基幹公共交通の実現に向けた基本方針" [Basic policy for realize to Core public transportation system connecting the west and east] (PDF) (in Japanese). Utsunomiya City office. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
26. ^ a b c "駅西側におけるLRT等によるNCCの更なる推進について" [Further promotion of NCC by LRT, etc. on the west side of the station] (PDF) (in Japanese). Utsunomiya City office. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Japanese)