Ube Line

The Ube Line (宇部線, Ube-sen) is a railway line in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West).

In 1928 the Ube Electric Railway Co. opened a 1 km line from Ube-Shinkawa to Ubeko, with a 2 km branch to the Okinoyama coal mine, both electrified at 1500 VDC.

Passenger services to Ubeko ceased in 1952, and both branches closed in 1961.

"One-man" driver only operation commenced on the section between Ube-Shinkawa and Inō on 1 June 1990, using 105 and 123 series EMUs.

[1] The entire line was switched to driver only (conductorless) operation on 14 March 1992.