Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd. (近畿日本鉄道株式会社, Kinki-nippon Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha), referred to as Kintetsu (近鉄), is a Japanese passenger railway company, managing infrastructure and operating passenger train service. Its railway system is the largest in Japan, excluding Japan Railways Group.[1] The railway network connects Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tsu, Ise, and Yoshino. Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd.
On September 16, 1910, Nara Tramway Co., Ltd. (奈良軌道株式会社, Nara Kidō) was founded and renamed Osaka Electric Tramway Co., Ltd. (大阪電気軌道株式会社, Ōsaka Denki Kidō, Daiki (大軌)) a month after. Osaka Electric Tramway completed Ikoma Tunnel and started operating a line between Osaka and Nara (present-day Nara Line) on April 30, 1914.[1] The modern Kashihara, Osaka, and Shigi lines were completed in the 1920s, followed by the Kyoto Line (a cooperative venture with Keihan Electric Railway). Daiki founded Sangu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (参宮急行電鉄株式会社, Sangū Kyūkō Dentetsu, Sankyū (参急)) in 1927, which consolidated Ise Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (伊勢電気鉄道株式会社, Ise Denki Tetsudō, Iseden (伊勢電)) on September 15, 1936.
In 1938, Daiki teamed up with its subsidiary Kansai Express Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (関西急行電鉄株式会社, Kansai Kyūkō Dentetsu) to operate the first private railway service from Osaka to Nagoya. Another subsidiary Sankyū bought Kansai Express Electric Railway on January 1, 1940 and continued the service on its own. Then, Sankyū consolidated Yoro Railway Co., Ltd. (養老鉄道株式会社, Yōrō Tetsudō, not the present Yoro Railway Co., Ltd.) on August 1. Daiki consolidated its largest subsidiary Sankyū on March 15, 1941 and was renamed Kansai Express Railway Co., Ltd. (関西急行鉄道, Kansai Kyūko Tetsudō, Kankyū (関急)). Kankyū consolidated Osaka Railway Co., Ltd. (大阪鉄道株式会社, Ōsaka Tetsudō, Daitetsu (大鉄), owner of the present Minami Osaka Line) on February 1, 1943 and moved its headquarters from Uehommachi to Osaka Abenobashi.
Kankyū was renamed Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. (近畿日本鉄道株式会社, Kinki Nippon Tetsudō, Kinki Nippon (近畿日本) or Kin-nichi (近日)) after it consolidated Nankai Railway in June 1944: it maintained the name when Nankai regained its independence in 1947.
After World War II, Kintetsu branched out and became one of the world's largest travel agencies, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd., opening offices in the United States of America (Kintetsu International Express, Inc.) and other countries.
The first charged limited express train service started between Uehommachi and Nagoya in 1947, and this is the start of the present Kintetsu limited express trains. The rail network was mostly completed by consolidating Nara Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (奈良電気鉄道株式会社, Naraden (奈良電)), Shigi-Ikoma Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (信貴生駒電鉄株式会社), Mie Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (三重電気鉄道株式会社, Mieden (三重電)) and other companies.[1]
Kintetsu moved its headquarters again from Osaka Abenobashi to Osaka Uehommachi on December 5, 1969.
On June 28, 2003, Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. was renamed Kintetsu Corporation. The corporation was split on April 1, 2015. Its railway business division was succeeded by Kintetsu Split Preparatory Company, Ltd. (founded on April 30, 2014), while its real estate business division by Kintetsu Real Estate Co., Ltd., its hotel business division by Kintetsu Hotel Systems, Inc., and its retail business by Kintetsu Retail Service Corporation, respectively.
On the same day Kintetsu Corporation was split, it was renamed as Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd. as a holding company, while Kintetsu Split Preparatory Company, Ltd. was renamed as Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd.[2]
Abbreviations
From its founding to present
September 16, 1910—April 14, 1941: Daiki (大軌)
April 15, 1941—May 31, 1944: Kankyū (関急)
June 1, 1944—1948: Kinki Nippon (近畿日本) or Kin-nichi (近日)
Present: Kintetsu (近鉄) — used for the official corporate name in English since 2003.
Acquired or merged companies
Sangu Express Electric Railway Co., Ltd.: Sankyū (参急)
Owned and operated lines (Type I Railway Business), funiculars, and aerial tramway
Following lines belong to Kintetsu's Type I Railway Business (第一種鉄道事業, Dai-isshu tetsudō jigyō) and Cableway (索道, sakudō) Business under the Railway Business Act. This means that Kintetsu is the owner and operator of the lines.
Operated lines owned by other entities (Type II Railway Business)
Following line belongs to Kintetsu's Type II Railway Business (第二種鉄道事業, Dai-nishu tetsudō jigyō) under the Railway Business Act. This means that Kintetsu operates trains on the line, but the owner of the railway trackage is a separate company.
Keihanna Line (Ikoma - Gakken-Nara-Tomigaoka, trackage owned by Nara Ikoma Rapid Transit Railway Co., Ltd.)
Owned lines operated by other entities (Type III Railway Business)
Following lines belong to Kintetsu's Type III Railway Business (第三種鉄道事業, Dai-sanshu tetsudō jigyō) under the Railway Business Act. This means that Kintetsu is the owner of the railway facility, but the trains are operated by separate companies.
Hase Line (長谷線) (Sakurai - Hase, abandoned February1,1938(1938-02-01))
Sanjo Line (山上線) (Takayasuyama - Shigizammon, discontinued on January 7, 1944 and abandoned on March21,1957(1957-03-21))
Horyuji Line (法隆寺線) (Shin-Horyuji - Hirahata, discontinued on February 11, 1945 and abandoned on April1,1952(1952-04-01))
Obusa Line (小房線) (Unebi - Kashiharajingu-eki, discontinued on June 1, 1950 and abandoned on September1,1952(1952-09-01))
Ise Line (伊勢線) (Edobashi - Shin-Matsusaka - Daijingu-mae)
Shin-Matsusaka - Daijingu-mae: abandoned on August11,1942(1942-08-11)
Edobashi - Shin-Matsusaka: abandoned on January22,1961(1961-01-22)
Iga Line (伊賀線) (Nishi-Nabari - Iga-Kambe, abandoned on October1,1964(1964-10-01))
Shima Line (志摩線) (Kashikojima - Shinjuko, abandoned on July1,1969(1969-07-01))
Hachioji Line (八王子線) (Nishihino - Ise-Hachioji, discontinued on July 25, 1974 and abandoned on April1,1976(1976-04-01))
Higashi-Shigi Cable Line (東信貴鋼索線) (Shigisanshita - Shigisan, abandoned on September1,1983(1983-09-01))
Hokusei Line (Nishi-Kuwana - Ageki, transferred to Sangi Railway Co. on April 1, 2003)
Utsube Line (Kintetsu Yokkaichi - Utsube, transferred to Yokkaichi Asunaro Railway Company on April 1, 2015)
Hachioji Line (Hinaga - Nishi-Hino, transferred to Yokkaichi Asunaro Railway Company on April 1, 2015)
Lines transferred to Nankai Electric Railway
To separate both former Kankyū lines and Nankai Railway lines, on June 1, 1947, the following lines were transferred to Nankai Electric Railway Co. Ltd. that was renamed from Kōyasan Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Ohama Branch Line (大浜支線) (Shukuin - Ohama-kitaguchi - Ohamakaigan)
Ohama-kitaguchi - Ohamakaigan: abandoned on February11,1945(1945-02-11)
Shukuin - Ohama-kitaguchi: closed on July 10, 1945, abandoned on November28,1980(1980-11-28)
Uemachi Line (Tennoji-eki-mae - Sumiyoshikoen) (transferred to Hankai Tramway Co., Ltd. on December 1, 1980)
Hirano Line (平野線) (Imaike - Hirano) (abandoned on November28,1980(1980-11-28))
Unbuilt lines
Gifu Line (岐阜線) (Ogaki - Gifu or Hashima), planned by Yoro Electric Railway Co.
Shijonawate Line (四条畷線) (Sakuranomiya - Nukata), planned by Osaka Electric Railway Co.
Rolling stock
As of 1April2017[update], Kintetsu operates a fleet of 1,905 electric multiple unit (EMU) vehicles, the second largest fleet for a private railway operator in Japan after Tokyo Metro (2,766 vehicles).[3] The newest Hinotori80000 series EMU trainsets entered revenue service on limited express services between Osaka Namba and Kintetsu Nagoya in spring 2020. Eight six-car sets and three eight-car sets, 72 vehicles in total, will enter service by 2021. The end cars in each set will be designated "High Grade cars" with 1+2 abreast seating and a seat pitch of 1,300mm (51in). The intermediate "Regular" cars will have 2+2 abreast seating and a seat pitch of 1,160mm (46in). Seating in both types of accommodation will consist of fixed-back shell seats.[4][5]
In May 2022 Kintetsu announced that new commuter trainsets would be in service for 2024.[6]
Fare cards
KIPS ICOCA card: the contactless smart card sold by the Kintetsu Railway
Kintetsu accepts ICOCA, PiTaPa, and other compatible nation-wide IC cards throughout their network except on the Ikoma cable car and Katsuragi ropeway. Various discount tickets are also available from their website or ticket machines, with varying valid areas and usage periods. Surutto Kansai passes can be used in the Keihanshin area, west of Aoyamachō and north of Tsubosakayama stations. [7]
Hankyu Corporation (阪急電鉄株式会社, Hankyū Dentetsu kabushiki gaisha, lit.'Hankyu Electric Railway Stock Company'), trading as Hankyu Railway (阪急電鉄, Hankyū Dentetsu, lit.'Hankyu Electric Railway'), is a Japanese private railway company that provides commuter and interurban service to the northern Kansai region and is one of the flagship properties of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., in turn part of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group (which includes H2O Retailing Corporation and Toho Co., the creator of Godzilla). The railway's main terminal is at Umeda Station in Osaka. The signature color of Hankyu cars is maroon.
Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. is a Japanese private railway company of Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group that links Osaka and Kobe. It also owns the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.
The Central Japan Railway Company is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as JR Tōkai. Tōkai is a reference to the geographical region in which the company chiefly operates.
The Tokyu Corporation is a Japanese multinational keiretsu (conglomerate) holding company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Its main operation is the Tokyu Railways Company, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary operating railways in the Greater Tokyo Area.
Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway is a railway operator in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Its sole line, officially named the Namboku Line, operates as an extension of the Midōsuji Line of the Osaka Metro.
The Nara Line is a Japanese railway line owned by the Kintetsu Railway. The line connects Fuse Station in the eastern suburbs of Osaka to Kintetsu Nara Station in the historic city of Nara, though operationally, the line begins at Ōsaka Namba Station on the Namba Line. Additionally, some trains run through-services starting at Kobe Sannomiya Station on the Hanshin Railway Main Line in Kobe. Eastern satellite cities such as Higashiosaka and Ikoma are connected by the line. This line is more direct than the JR line between Osaka and Nara.
The Nagoya Line is a railway line owned and operated by the Kintetsu Railway, a Japanese private railway company, connecting Nagoya and Ise Nakagawa Station in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture via Kuwana, Yokkaichi, Suzuka, Tsu municipalities along the Ise Bay. The official starting-point of the line is Ise-Nakagawa and the terminus is Nagoya; however, operationally trains run "down" from and "up" towards Nagoya.
Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd. is a private railway in Japan, founded in 1884. The name Nankai comes from the company's routes along the Nankaidō, the old highway that ran south from the old capital, Kyoto, along the sea coast. Nankai predates all the electric railways in the Tokyo region.
The Keihan Katano Line is a 6.9 km railway line in northern Osaka Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway company Keihan Electric Railway. It connects Hirakatashi Station on the Keihan Main Line with Kisaichi Station.
The Keihanna Line is a railway line operated by Kintetsu Railway. There are through trains to the Chūō Line of Osaka Municipal Subway. The line name derives from a kanji acronym formed from Kyoto (京都), Osaka (大阪), and Nara (奈良), but the name is written in hiragana.
Ohmi Railway Co., Ltd. is a Japanese private railway company which operates in Shiga Prefecture, and a member of the Seibu group since 1943. The company is named after the Ōmi Province, the former name of the present-day Shiga. The railway is nicknamed "Gachakon train" by local users because of its noisy sound.
Kintetsu Department Store Co., Ltd. is a department store chain in the Kansai region, Japan. It is headquartered in Abenosuji Itchome, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan.
The Iga Line is a railway line in Iga, Mie, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Iga Railway Co., Ltd.. The line connects Iga-Ueno Station with Iga-Kambe Station. The track and trains are owned by Kintetsu Railway, although the trains are operated by Iga Railway. It is also referred to as the Ninja Line (忍者線).
The Yōrō Line is a railway line of a Japanese private railway operator Yōrō Railway. The line traverses the northeastern side of the Yōrō Mountains and connects Kuwana Station in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture and Ibi Station in Ibigawa, Gifu Prefecture.
Ise-Nakagawa Station is a major junction station owned and operated by the private Kintetsu railway company in the city of Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture. The station is served by all trains on that company's Yamada Line and most trains on its Nagoya and Osaka Lines. The Ise-Nakagawa stationmaster is responsible for managing the sections between here and Higashi-Aoyama on the Osaka Line and between here and Higashi-Matsusaka on the Yamada Line.
The Gakunan Railway Line is Japanese railway line between Yoshiwara and Gakunan-Enoo, all within the industrial area of Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. The line does not have any official name. This is the only railway line Gakunan Electric Train Co., Ltd. operates. The operator company was established on April 1, 2013 as a subsidiary of the former operator Gakunan Railway, a subsidiary of Fuji Kyuko.
The Shima Line is a railway line in Mie Prefecture, Japan, operated by private railway operator Kintetsu Railway, connecting Toba Station in Toba with Kashikojima Station in Shima.
Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd., referred to as Kintetsu GHD (近鉄GHD), is a Japanese railway holding company which primarily owns the Kintetsu Railway as well as Kintetsu World Express, Kintetsu Department Store, and its other 141 corporations, which are collectively known as Kintetsu Group.
↑ 純持株会社制移行に伴う会社分割に関するお知らせ(PDF) (in Japanese). Kintetsu Corporation. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
↑ 私鉄車両編成表 2017[Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2017] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2017. pp.213–214. ISBN978-4-330-81317-2.
↑ 近鉄，名阪特急に新形車両を導入[Kintetsu to introduce new rolling stock on Nagoya - Osaka limited express services]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
↑ 新型名阪特急 ２０２０年春デビュー！[New Nagoya - Osaka limited express to debut in spring 2020!](PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Kintetsu Railway. 11 January 2018. Archived(PDF) from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
↑ "近鉄，2024年秋に新形一般車両を導入へ"[Kintetsu to introduce new general vehicles in the fall of 2024]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
‡ indicates rapid transit operators § indicates semi-major rail operators *Not a member of Associations of Private Japanese Railways, therefore excluded under the formal Japanese definition, although its comparable size is undisputed
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