Yutorito Line — BrandWiki

The Yutorito Line (ゆとりーとライン) is guided bus and bus rapid transit line in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. The line is officially named the Guideway Bus Shidami Line (ガイドウェイバス志段味線). The name "Yutorito" is a portmanteau of yutori (ゆとり) and street (ストリート).

The line is owned by Nagoya Guideway Bus Company (名古屋ガイドウェイバス株式会社), itself owned by the City of Nagoya Municipal Government, Development Bank of Japan, Meitetsu (Nagoya Railroad), JR Tokai Bus Company, and MUFG Bank. It opened on 23 March 2001.

Overview

The line consists of a guided bus segment on a viaduct dedicated track in central Nagoya and an ordinary bus segment on public roads. Vehicles go directly between the two segments via a curved ramp. The guided bus segment runs between Ōzone in Higashi Ward and Obata Ryokuchi in Moriyama Ward. Nagoya Guideway Bus Co. manages the guideway facilities and cars, while Nagoya Municipal Bus operates buses on the line.

The Yutorito Line is the only guided bus line in Japan. The line is legally considered to be a type of railway, with the elevated section treated as a type of tram.[1] The operation of the line thus adheres to the laws of the Railway Business Act, similar to monorails and automated guideway transit in the country.

Previously, Meitetsu Bus and JR Central Bus also operated buses on the line. The two operators withdrew from the line on 1 October 2009.

Basic data

The data below is about the elevated, guided bus segment.

Distance: 6.5 km
Stations: 9
Double-track line: Whole line
Motive energy: Internal combustion engine

Routes

There are 4 routes operated, each on different normal bus segments.

Ōzone – Obata Ryokuchi
Ōzone – Obata Ryokuchi – Nakashidami
Ōzone – Obata Ryokuchi – Shidami Science Park – Nakashidami
Ōzone – Obata Ryokuchi – Kōzōji

Stations