This is the only line Ryūtetsu operates, making the company unique for being an independent railway operator with just a single 5.7 km line and no major subsidiary businesses (unlike Yamaman or The Oriental Land Company and their Disney Resort Line).

The short line functions as a link between the centre of the city of Nagareyama and the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Jōban Line.

However, after the opening of the Tsukuba Express on August 24, 2005, ridership fell sharply.

Suica and PASMO contactless smart cards cannot be used, and Ryūtetsu reportedly has no plans to introduce the system on the line.

The company was incorporated on November 7, 1913 as Nagareyama Light Railway (流山軽便鉄道, Nagareyama Keiben Tetsudō) and opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge railway on March 14, 1916.