Keio Corporation

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 the central firm of the Keio Group (京王グループ, Keiō Gurūpu) that is involved in transport, retail, real estate and other industries.

For other uses, see Keio (disambiguation).

Keio Corporation
TypePublic (K.K)
TYO: 9008
IndustryPublic transport
Real estate
Retail
PredecessorKeio Electric Railway
(京王電気軌道)
FoundedShinjuku, Tokyo, Japan (June 1, 1948 (1948-06-01))
FounderTokutarō Inoue
Headquarters
Tama, Tokyo
,
Japan
Key people
Kan Katō, President & CEO
Revenue¥429.19 billion (FY2008)
Total assets¥660.161 billion (FY2008)
Number of employees
2276 (2007)
SubsidiariesKeio Dentetsu Bus
Keio Department Store
Keio Plaza Hotel
Websitewww.keio.co.jp

The name "Keio" (京王) is derived from taking one character each from the places through which the railway runs: "Tōkyō" (東京) and "Hachiōji" (八王子). The Keio railway network connects the western suburbs of Tokyo (Chōfu, Fuchū, Hachiōji, Hino, Inagi, Tama) and Sagamihara in Kanagawa with central Tokyo at Shinjuku Station.

Lines
Route map

The Keio network is based around the central Keiō Line, 37.9 km, 32 stations.

Line Section Station No. Length (km) Stations Date opened Maximum
speed (km/h)
Keiō Line Shinjuku - Keiō Hachiōji 01, 04-34 37.9 32 April 15, 1913 110
Keiō Sagamihara Line Chōfu - Hashimoto 18, 35-45 22.6 12 1916 110
Keiō Takao Line Kitano - Takaosanguchi 33, 48-53 8.6 7 March 20, 1931 105
Keiō Inokashira Line Shibuya - Kichijōji 01-17 12.7 17 1934 90
Keiō New Line Shinjuku - Sasazuka 01-04 3.6 4 1980
Keiō Dōbutsuen Line Takahatafudō - Tama-Dōbutsukōen 29, 47 2.0 2 April 29, 1964
Keiō Keibajō Line Higashi-Fuchū - Fuchū-Keiba-Seimon-mae 23, 46 0.9 2 April 29, 1955
Total 7 lines 88.3

The Keio Inokashira Line does not share track with the Main Line. It intersects with the Keio Line at Meidaimae Station.

History

The company's earliest predecessor was the Nippon Electric Railway (日本電気鉄道) founded in 1905. In 1906 the company was reorganized as the Musashi Electric Railway (武蔵電気鉄道), and in 1910 was renamed yet again to Keio Electric Tramway (京王電気軌道). It began operating its first stretch of railway between Sasazuka and Chōfu in 1913. By 1923, Keiō had completed its main railway line (now the Keiō Line) between Shinjuku and Hachiōji. Track along the Fuchū – Hachiōji section was originally laid in 1,067 mm gauge by the Gyokunan Electric Railway (玉南電気鉄道); it was later changed to match the rest of the line's 1,372 mm gauge.

The Inokashira Line began operating in 1933 as a completely separate company, Teito Electric Railway (帝都電鉄). This company had also planned to link Ōimachi with Suzaki (now Kōtō ward), though this never materialized. In 1940, Teito merged with the Odakyu Electric Railway, and in 1942 the combined companies were merged by government order into Tōkyō Kyūkō Dentetsu (東京急行電鉄) (now Tokyu Corporation).

Map of Tokyo Area railways with 1,372 mm gauge

In 1947, the shareholders of Tokyu voted to spin off the Keio and Inokashira lines into a new company, Keiō Teito Electric Railway (京王帝都電鉄). The Teito name was dropped in 1998 in favor of Keio Electric Railway (京王電鉄, Keiō Dentetsu), though "KTR" placards and insignia can still be seen occasionally. The company's English name was changed to Keio Corporation on June 29, 2005.

Priority seats
"Priority Seat" sign

Keiō was among the first railway companies to introduce priority seats on its trains. Priority seats are those reserved for the physically handicapped, elderly, pregnant women, and people with infants. 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.

Rolling stock

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

1,372 mm (4' 6") gauge lines

The first of a fleet of five new ten-car 5000 series EMUs was introduced on 29 September 2017, ahead of the start of new evening reserved-seat commuter services from Shinjuku in spring 2018.[1]

  • 7000 series (8-car set)
  • 8000 series (10-car set)
  • 9000 series (10-car set)

Former rolling stock
  • 6000 series (4-car set)

1,067 mm (3' 6") gauge lines

Former rolling stock
  • 1000 series
  • 3000 series (refurbished)

Transport

Retail
  • Keio Department Store
  • Keio Store

Other
  • Keio Realty and Development
  • Keio Travel Agency
  • Keio Plaza Hotel
  • Keio Construction

References
  1. 京王5000系営業運転開始 [Keio 5000 series enters revenue service]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
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