is a private railway and bus company in Mie Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1928 and its initial line, the Sangi Line, originally functioned as a freight line transporting cement, but later developed into an important commuter railway line for the city of Yokkaichi. The Hokusei Line was transferred from Kintetsu Railway in 2003 when Kintetsu abandoned the line. Whereas the Sangi Line has a track gauge of , the Hokusei Line is one of only a few narrow gauge lines remaining in the country.
History
The Sangi Line was opened by Onoda Cement in 1931 as a freight-only line to service its cement plant at Nishi-Fujiwara. Passenger services were introduced in 1952. In 1954, the line was electrified at 1,500 V DC, and the company purchased an electric locomotive from Japanese National Railways to haul its cement trains. CTC signalling was commissioned on the line in 1974.
Rolling stock Sangi Line The Sangi Line (三岐線) runs from Kintetsu-Tomida Station in Yokkaichi to Nishi-Fujiwara Station in Inabe.
EMUs 801 series - Former Seibu 701 series trains acquired in 1989 101 series - Former Seibu 401 series trains acquired in 1990 851 series - Former Seibu 701 series trains acquired in 1995 751 series 3-car EMUs - Former Seibu 101 series trains acquired in 2009Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō (鉄道ダイヤ情報) March 2009 issue, p.70-71 5000 series - Former JR Central 211 series trains acquired in 2025
Electric locomotives Class ED45: Since 1954 (includes former Tobu Railway locomotives) Class ED301: Former Nankai Class ED5201 acquired in 1984 Class DeKi 200: Former Chichibu Railway Class DeKi 200 acquired in July 2000 and withdrawn in March 2011
Hokusei Line The Hokusei Line (北勢線) runs from Nishi-Kuwana Station in Kuwana to Ageki Station in Inabe.
EMUs 130 series - Built in 1954 200 series - Built in 1959 140 series - Built in 1960 270 series - Built in 1977
See also List of railway companies in Japan
References This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
External links