Chichibu Railway

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Chichibu Railway Co., Ltd. 秩父鉄道株式会社
Type	Public K.K. (JASDAQ: 9012)
Founded	8 November 1899
Headquarters	Kumagaya, Saitama Pref., Japan
Key people	Shigetoshi Arafune (CEO)
Industry	Railway
Employees	356 (601 incl. related businesses)
Website	www.chichibu-railway.co.jp

Chichibu Railway Co., Ltd. (秩父鉄道株式会社, Chichibu Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha^?) (JASDAQ: 9012) is a small-sector private railway company operating two railway lines in northern Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In addition to its railway operations, the company deals in the real estate and tourism industries. It also manages the Mitsumine Ropeway (三峰ロープウェイ). The aerial tramway line, however, will be closed in December 2007.

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.

A Chichibu Railway 6000 type train.

1 Lines
- 1.1 Railway lines
- 1.2 Aerial tramway lines
2 History
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Lines

[edit] 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)

[edit] Aerial tramway lines

Mitsumine Ropeway at Mitsumineguchi
- To be closed in December 2007.

[edit] 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.