| Watarase Keikoku Line | |
| Native Name: | わたらせ渓谷線 |
| Start: | Kiryū |
| End: | Matō |
| Tracks: | 1 |
| Stations: | 17 |
| Linelength Km: | 44.1 |
| Trainprotection: | ATS-P ATS-S N |
| Speed: | (Maximum) |
The is a Japanese railway line connecting Kiryū Station in Kiryū, Gunma and Matō Station in Nikkō, Tochigi. This is the only railway line that the third-sector company operates. The company and line are also known as or . The company acquired the line from the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in 1989. As the name suggests, the line runs along the Watarase River through a deep valley.
The Ashio Railway Co. opened the line to Ashio-Motoyama (2km (01miles) beyond Mato) in 1911–12 to service the Ashio Copper Mine, and leased the line to JNR in 1913. Passenger services were introduced in 1914. In 1918 the line was nationalised.[1]
The copper mine closed in 1973, the same year the line was deviated for the construction of the Kusaki Dam, including the 5242m (17,198feet) Kusaki Tunnel.
Operation of the line between Kiryū and Matō was transferred to the Watarase Keikoku Railway, a third-sector company, in 1989.[2] Also in 1989, the Ashio-MotoyamaMato section was closed.
| Station No. | Station | Japanese | Watarase Keikoku-gō | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 桐生 | East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Ryōmō Line Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line | Kiryū | Gunma | |||
| - | Shimo-Shinden Signal Box | 下新田信号場 | ||||
| 下新田 | ||||||
| 相老 | ※ | Tōbu Railway | ||||
| 運動公園 | ｜ | Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line | ||||
| 大間々 | ● | Tōbu: Kiryū Line Jōmō Electric Railway: Jōmō Line (Akagi) | Midori | |||
| 上神梅 | ｜ | |||||
| 本宿 | ｜ | Kiryū | ||||
| 水沼 | ● | |||||
| 花輪 | ｜ | Midori | ||||
| 中野 | ｜ | |||||
| 小中 | ｜ | |||||
| 神戸 | ● | |||||
| 沢入 | ● | |||||
| 原向 | ｜ | Nikkō | Tochigi | |||
| 通洞 | ● | |||||
| 足尾 | ● | |||||
| 間藤 | ||||||