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.

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

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

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.