Nagasaki Electric Tramway

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Type 3000 tramcar.

Nagasaki-Ekimae Station.

The Nagasaki Electric Tramway (長崎電気軌道, Nagasaki Denki Kidō^?) is a private tram system in Nagasaki, Japan. Beginning in March 20, 2008, its lines accept Nagasaki Smart Card, a smart card ticketing system.

The company was founded on August 2, 1914, while the tram line was opened in November 16, 1915. It once operated bus lines as well, but went out from the division later in 1971. The company and the lines are commonly known as Nagasaki Electric Railway (長崎電鉄, Nagasaki Dentetsu^?). Locals also call them the electric train (電車, densha^?), while JR lines are called JR, the train cars (列車, ressha^?), or the locomotive train (汽車, kisha^?).

The lines are stably making profits. This is the only tramway operator in Japan that has not lost any of its original lines. The fare has been just ¥100, which is currently the lowest fare of Japanese public transportation by private companies, for all the sections since 1984. The company declares it will try keep its current fare as long as possible. [1]

[edit] Line and routes

Only interchangeable stations are shown here.

Lines: Officially, there are five lines totaling 11.5 km.
- Akasako Branch Line (赤迫支線): Akasako — Sumiyoshi
- Main Line (本線): Sumiyoshi — Nagasaki-Ekimae — (Dejima) — Tsukimachi — Nishihamanomachi — Shōkakuji-shita
- Sakuramachi Branch Line (桜町支線): Nagasaki-Ekimae — (Sakuramachi) — Kōkaidō-mae
- Ōura Branch Line (大浦支線): Tsukimachi — Ishibashi
- Hotarujaya Branch Line (蛍茶屋支線): Nishihamanomachi — Kōkaidō-mae — Hotarujaya
Routes: There are five routes regularly in service over one or more lines. Route 2, however, only has 1 lap a day late at night. There are other temporary routes as well.