Kumamoto Electric Railway


The Kumamoto Electric Railway is a public transport company in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is abbreviated as Kumamoto Dentetsu or Kumaden. The company was founded in 1909. The company operates railway and bus lines.

Lines

A short section of the Fujisaki Line shares its track with public road, like a tram line.

Rolling stock

Three former Tokyo Metro 03 series EMU trains are scheduled to be purchased and introduced on the line between 2018 and 2020.

History

The forerunner of the company, Kikuchi Tramway, was established in on 15 August 1909, and opened the gauge steam-hauled line from Ikeda Station to Sendanbatamachi Station on 1 October 1911. On 27 August 1913, the line between Ikeda and Waifu Station was opened.
From 31 August 1923, the line was converted to gauge and electrified at 600 V DC.
The current section of the Kikuchi Line between Kita-Kumamoto and Kami-Kumamoto opened on 1 October 1950, resulting in two lines between those stations, the original via Fujisakigū-mae and the new line. In June 1953 the original line from Kami-Kumamoto to Fujisakigū-mae closed. The 13.5 km Miyoshi to Kikuchi section closed on 16 February 1986 due to falling patronage.