Shigaraki Kōgen Railway

Shigaraki Kohgen Railway Co., Ltd. (信楽高原鐵道株式会社, Shigaraki Kōgen Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha^?) is a Japanese third-sector railway company funded by Shiga Prefecture and the city of Koka.

The railway operates the Shigaraki Line, a former JR West line that was transferred to the third sector in 1987. The Shigaraki Line connects Kibukawa on the JR West Kusatsu Line with Shigaraki.

As of 1 April 2016^[update], the company operates a fleet of four diesel railcars: SKR200 series car 205, SKR310 series cars 311 and 312, and SKR400 series car 401. SKR400 series diesel railcar SKR401 was delivered to the line in September 2015. This replaced car SKR301, which was withdrawn from service on 3 October 2015. New SKR500 series diesel railcar SKR501 is scheduled to enter revenuew service on the line from 5 February 2017.

A pair of SKR200 series diesel railcars in 1988

An SKR310 series diesel car

SKR401 in January 2017

SKR301 in September 2006

The line was opened by the Japanese Government Railways on May 8, 1933. Freight services ceased in 1982.

The company was established on February 10, 1987 and started the railway operation on July 13, 1987 following the end of the operation by JR West the day before. Originally the company owned the railway facilities, but on April 1, 2013 the asset was transferred to the city of Kōka for 10-year free lease to the company as a part of the restructuring.

The line has an unfortunate record in this regard, with services suspended between 1943 and 1947 due to it being deemed non-essential during the World War II and the track was removed. The citizens' volunteer work contributed to the reopening of the line on July 25, 1947.

...
Wikipedia