Abstract
Since the Japan National Railways Ryomo Line connected Maebashi and Kiryu via Isesaki, the Jomo Electric Railway was established with the purpose of resolving the transportation inconvenience in the southern foothills of Mt. Akagi and transporting the raw silk produced in this area. This is a regional railway planned by local textile manufacturers, electric power companies, and influential people.
The company had planned to build a railway network throughout the Gunma prefecture, including the Ogo－Honjo route, but due to economic recession, the current route, Chūō-Maebashi－Nishikiriu (25.4km), was opened in 1928. However, other route plans were not realized.
Since its opening, the Jomo Electric Railway has been aware of competition with the Ryomo Line for transportation between Maebashi and Kiryu, and until the mid-1960s, the Jomo Electric Railway had an advantage in terms of the number of trains operated and the time required, but in April 1968, the Ryomo Line was electrified and partially double-tracked, increasing its speed and convenience. In terms of fares, the line remained almost the same as the Ryomo Line until the mid-1960s, but since then, due to unprofitability, prices have been raised one after another, and the fare gap has widened. In addition to the spread of private cars, these factors are thought to have caused many of the passengers using the Maebashi－Kiryu route to switch to the Ryomo Line.
