The Setagaya Line (世田谷線, Setagaya-sen) is a light rail line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by Tokyu Corporation. It connects Sangen-jaya to Shimo-takaido in Setagaya, Tokyo.[1]
Unlike other Tokyu lines that are heavy rail commuter lines, the Setagaya Line is governed under the Tramways Act (軌道法, kidou-hou) of the Japanese government. Despite this, the entire line is located on its own right-of-way because it is a branch line of the former Tamagawa Line (玉川線), which is not the same line as the present-day Tōkyū Tamagawa Line.[2]
The Setagaya Line was opened by the Tamagawa Electric Railway (玉川電気鉄道, Tamagawa Denki Tetsudō, "Tamaden") in 1923, running on surface streets between Shibuya and the Tama River. Since the railway merged with Tokyu in 1938, the balance of the line closed in 1969, leaving this isolated section as the sole Tokyu line to use 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in) gauge.[2]
The Setagaya Line and the Toden Arakawa Line (the only surviving line of the former Tokyo Toden network) are the only railway lines in Tokyo proper to be legally classified as tramways (軌道, kidō).
The line has its own smart card system called Setamaru, which cannot be used on other Tokyu lines. Since March 2007 the PASMO contactless card has also been accepted on the Setagaya and other Tokyu lines.
All stations are located in Setagaya.
Miyanosaka Station was formerly known as Gotokujimae (豪徳寺前駅).
Matsubara was formerly known as Rokushojinjamae (六所神社前駅) and was moved approximately 100 meters to the north.
An eleventh station known as Shichikenchō (七軒町駅) was located between the present Matsubara and Shimo-takaido stations.
