Hisatsu-Orange Railway is a third-sector company's railway which was transfered from JR Kyushu(formerly state-operated JNR, Japan National Railway). This railway was formerly a part of Kagoshima Main Line(between Sendai station, Kagoshima prefecture and Yatsushiro station, Kumamoto prefecture), but it's operation was disconnected as other company's railway when the Kyushu Shinkansen service began. Hisatsu-Orange Railway has indirect route from Kumamoto to Kagoshima and runs slowly. So its speed and efficiency is inferior compared with Kyushu Shinkansen, but its window view is so beautiful. If you have plenty time for journey, I think this railway is worth riding!