Chichibu Railway
 | |
| Company type | Kabushiki kaisha |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway |
| Founded | 8 November 1899 |
| Headquarters | Kumagaya, Saitama Pref., Japan |
Key people | Shigetoshi Arafune (CEO) |
Number of employees | 356 (601 incl. related businesses) |
| Website | [1] |
Chichibu Railway Co., Ltd (秩父鉄道株式会社, Chichibu Tetsudō Kabushiki Kaisha) is a small-sector private railway company operating two railway lines in northern Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In addition to its railway operations, the company manages the Mitsumine Ropeway (三峰ロープウェイ), and deals in the real estate and tourism industries.
Taiheiyo Cement is its largest shareholder, and one of Chichibu Railway's main operations is the transportation of limestone from Mount Bukou (Bukousan). The railway's passenger services concentrate on the tourism industry, as there are popular destinations along the line. A train pulled by a steam locomotive also operates regularly during some seasons, attracting tourists from around the country.
Lines
Railway lines
- Chichibu Mainline (秩父本線): from Hanyu to Mitsumineguchi (passenger line)
- Mikajiri Line (三ヶ尻線): from Takekawa to Kumagaya Kamotsu Terminal (freight line)
Aerial tramway lines
- Mitsumine Ropeway at Mitsumineguchi
History
- 1899 - Founded as Jōbu Railway (Headquartered in now-defunct Nihombashi Ward, Tokyo City)
- 1901 - Started operations between Kumagaya and Yorii
- 1916 - Company name changed to Chichibu Railway
- 1921 - Started operations between Hokubu Railway's Hanyu station and Gyoda Station (now Gyodashi station)
- 1922 - Chichibu Railway acquired Hokubu Railway
- 1930 - Started operations on the full line between Hanyu and Mitsumineguchi
- 1954 - Started direct operations with the Tobu Tōjo Line
- 1980 - Headquarters moved to Kumagaya City
- 1988 - Started operations of a steam locomotive-pulled train, the Paleo Express
- 1989 - Started direct operations with Seibu Railway
- 1997 - Moved bus operations to a separate entity, Chichibu Railway Sightseeing Bus Co., Ltd.