HIGASHI-AGATSUMA, Gunma -- A test run of a bicycle-type railroad handcar was launched by the Higashi-Agatsuma town government in Gunma Prefecture on Thursday, and it is hoped it will become a driving force for tourism in the town. The vehicle runs on a JR Agatsuma Line railway that is no longer in service following the construction of the Yamba Dam nearby.
The town government aims to start running the handcars -- which are propelled by two power-assisted bicycles -- for tourists such as railway enthusiasts and families in the spring of 2020. Visitors will be able to enjoy the scenery of the Agatsumakyo valley, which is designated as a national scenic spot for its autumn leaves and fresh summer greenery.
The former 10.4-kilometer section between Iwashima Station and Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station was known for the 7.2-meter Tarusawa Tunnel -- the shortest railway tunnel in Japan -- as well as the scenic beauty of the valley.
However, about six kilometers of the section was submerged during construction of the dam, so the same distance was shifted to higher ground in September 2014.
According to the town's plan, two courses -- one 800 meters long and the other measuring 2-1/2 kilometers -- will be established for the handcars on sections of the former railroad that were not submerged.
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