is a small-sector private railway company operating a railway line in northern Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In addition to its railway operations, the company deals in the real estate and tourism industries. It managed the Mitsumine Ropeway (三峰ロープウェイ) until it closed in December 2007 and the Mikajiri Line until its closure in 2020.Mikajiri Line closure brings Japanese coal traffic to an end
Taiheiyo Cement is its largest shareholder, and one of Chichibu Railway's main operations is the transportation of limestone from Mount Bukō. The railway's passenger services concentrate on the tourism industry as there are popular destinations along the line. A train hauled by a steam locomotive also operates regularly during some seasons.
Lines
Railway lines
Chichibu Main Line: from to (passenger line)
Former lines Mikajiri Line (三ヶ尻線): from Takekawa Station to Kumagaya Kamotsu Terminal (freight line which carried coal, closed in 2020)
Aerial tramway lines at Mitsumineguchi (closed in December 2007) Hodosan Ropeway in Nagatoro, Saitama
History 8 November 1899 - Founded as Jōbu Railway (Headquartered in now-defunct Nihonbashi Ward, Tokyo City). 7 October 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 Tōbu Tōjō Line. 1980 - Headquarters moved to Kumagaya, Saitama. 1988 - Started operations of a steam locomotive-hauled 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. 12 March 2022 - Support for PASMO and Nationwide Mutual Usage Service IC cards along the entire line. 1 October 2025 - Merges with subsidiary Hodo Kōgyō, operator of Hodosan Ropeway
References This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
External links