Keio Corporation

For other uses, see Keio (disambiguation).

Keiō Inokashira Line 1000 series train

"Priority Seat" sign

Keiō Line 8000 series train

Keio Corporation (京王電鉄株式会社, Keiō Dentetsu Kabushiki-gaisha^?) (TYO: 9008) is a private railway operator in Tokyo, Japan, and a central firm of the Keio Group (京王グループ, Keiō Gurūpu^?) that is involved in transportation, retail, real estate and other industries.

The name "Keiō" is a contraction for "Tokyō-Hachiōji" (東京-八王子). The Keiō railway network connects the western suburbs of Tokyo (Chōfu, Fuchū, Hachiōji, Hino, Inagi, Sagamihara, Tama) with the city center at Shinjuku Station.

The Keiō Corporation and the JR Keiyō Line are separate, and have no stations near each other.

History

Keiō's earliest predecessor is the Nippon Electric Railway (日本電気鉄道) which was formed in 1905. This was reorganized as the Musashi Electric Railway (武蔵電気鉄道) in 1906. The concern was renamed again to Keiō Electric Tramway (京王電気軌道) in 1910 and began operating its first stretch of railway in 1913 between Sasazuka and Chōfu. By 1923, Keiō had completed its main-trunk rail link from Shinjuku to Hachiōji. Trackage from Fuchū to Hachiōji was installed by Gyokunan Electric Railway (玉南電気鉄道) in 1,067 mm gauge, but was later changed to 1,372 mm gauge.

The Inokashira Line began operating in 1933 as completely separate company, Teito Electric Railway (帝都電鉄). This company planned also to link Ōimachi with Suzaki (now Kōtō city) though this never materialized. In 1940, Teito merged with the Odakyu Electric Railway, and in 1942 the combined companies also became part of Tokyu Corporation.

In 1947, the shareholders of Tōkyū voted to spin off the Keiō and Inokashira lines as a new Keio Teito Electric Railway (京王帝都電鉄) company. The Teito name was dropped in 1998, though KTR placards and insignia can still be seen occasionally.

Priority seats

Keiō was among the first railways to have a Priority seat (優先席) system. Priority seats are reserved spaces for the physically handicapped, elderly, pregnant women, and people with infant. These special seats, which were initially called "Silver Seats" but renamed in 1993, were inaugurated on Respect for the Aged Day on September 15, 1973.

Lines

Route map

The Keiō network is based around the central Keiō Line, 37.9 km, 32 stations, which is occasionally referred to as the Keiō Main Line (京王本線, Keiō Honsen^?).

The Keiō Inokashira Line does not share trackage with the Main Line. It intersects with the Keiō Line at Meidaimae Station.

Rolling stock

All Keiō trains have longitudinal (commuter-style) seating.

1,372 mm gauge lines

• 9000 series (from 2001)
• 8000 series (from 1992)
• 7000 series (from 1984)
• 6000 series (from 1972)

9000 series (8-car set)

8000 series (6+4-car set)

7000 series (8-car set)

6000 series (4-car set)

Shinjuku Line inter-running trains

• 10-300 series
• 10-300R series
• 10-000 series

10-300 series

10-000 series

1,067 mm gauge lines

• 1000 series (from 1996)
• 3000 series (from 1962)

1000 series

3000 series (refurbished)

3000 series (unrefurbished, now withdrawn)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Keio Electric Railway

Related companies

• Keio Dentetsu Bus
  • Keio Bus Higashi
  • Keio Bus Chuo
  • Keio Bus Minami
  • Keio Bus Koganei
• Nishi Tokyo Bus
  • Tama Bus

See also

Tokyo portal

References

External links

• Keio Corporation - Official Website