, publicly trading as , is a

private railway A private railway is a railroad run by a private business entity (usually a corporation but not need be), as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector. Japan In Japan, , commonly simply ''private railway'', refers to a public transit railway o ...

company operating around

Aichi Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the ...

and

Gifu Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Gifu Prefecture has a population of 1,910,511 () and has a geographic area of . Gifu Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the north; Ishikawa Prefecture ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. Some of the more famous trains operated by Meitetsu include the ''

Panorama Car is a trainset series operated by Nagoya Railroad, including the . Like the ''Romancecar'' trains of Odakyu Electric Railway, they are designed to be tourist oriented limited express trains, although they also operate on services. The very ...

'' and the '' Panorama Car Super'', both of which offer views through their wide front windows. While the ''Panorama Super'' train is used extensively for the railroad's limited express service, the older and more energy-consuming ''Panorama Car'' train has been retired, the last run being on 27 December 2008. In the

Tōkai region The is a subregion of the Chūbu region and Kansai region in Japan that runs along the Pacific Ocean. The name comes from the Tōkaidō, one of the Edo Five Routes. Because Tōkai is a sub-region and is not officially classified, there is ...

around

Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...

, it is a central firm of the

Meitetsu Group The of companies centers on the Nagoya Railroad railway company, which links Nagoya and its suburbs. Many companies in the group are designed to enhance the value of the Meitetsu rail network. In addition to the railroad system, the group includes ...

, which is involved in

transport Transport (in British English) or transportation (in American English) is the intentional Motion, movement of humans, animals, and cargo, goods from one location to another. Mode of transport, Modes of transport include aviation, air, land tr ...

retail trade Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is the sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesale ...

service industry The tertiary sector of the economy, generally known as the service sector, is the third of the three economic sectors in the three-sector model (also known as the economic cycle). The others are the primary sector (raw materials) and the s ...

, and real estate, among other industries. As of March 2023, Meitetsu operated of track, 275 stations, and 1,076 train cars, being one of the largest private railway companies in Japan.

History

Meitetsu was founded on June 25, 1894, as the Aichi Horsecar Company. Over time, Meitetsu has acquired many small railway and

interurban The interurban (or radial railway in Canada) is a type of electric railway, with tram-like electric self-propelled railcars which run within and between cities or towns. The term "interurban" is usually used in North America, with other terms u ...

companies in the Nagoya area, many of whom were constructed and operated before and during World War II. For example, Meitetsu acquired its Kōwa Line on the

Chita Peninsula The Chita Peninsula (知多半島 ''Chita Hantō'') is a peninsula to the south of Aichi Prefecture, central Honshū, Japan. It runs approximately north-south. To the west is Ise Bay, while to the east it encloses Mikawa Bay. It faces the Atsu ...

from its merger with

Chita Railroad Chita may refer to: People * Alin Chița (born 1977), Romanian footballer * Oussama Chita (born 1996), Algerian footballer * Chita Foras, Italian-Argentine actress born Josefína Foras Cossini (1900–1986) * Chita Rivera, stage name of Americ ...

on February 1, 1943, and it acquired its Mikawa Line from its merger with

Mikawa Railroad Mikawa may refer to: ;Places in Japan * Mikawa Province, an old province of Japan * Mikawa, Yamagata, a town in Yamagata Prefecture * Mikawa, Ishikawa, former town in Ishikawa Prefecture * Mikawa, Kumamoto, former town in Kumamoto Prefecture * Mik ...

. Meitetsu is famous for its red trains, including its famous

7000 series 7000 series may refer to: Japanese trains * Chichibu Railway 7000 series electric multiple unit (EMU) * Echizen Railway 7000 series EMU * Hankyu 7000 series EMU * Hokushin Kyuko Electric Railway 7000 series EMU operating for the Kobe Munici ...

"Panorama Car" which was retired in 2009 after a career lasting nearly half a century. The most recent cars, however, are not solid red but rather brushed steel as in the case of the

4000 series The 4000 series is a CMOS logic family of integrated circuits (ICs) first introduced in 1968 by RCA. It was slowly migrated into the 4000B buffered series after about 1975. It had a much wider supply voltage range than any contemporary logic fami ...

and 5000 series, or white as in the case of the 1700 series and 2000 series. While the company used to engage in the freight business and still possesses some freight locomotives, it no longer carries freight on a regular basis.

Lines

Major stations

Major stations in Nagoya

*NH36 :

Meitetsu Nagoya Station is the principal railway station, station of the Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) system in Nagoya, Japan. Most trains of Meitetsu's major lines operate through this station. The station is also a gateway to the Chubu Centrair International Ai ...

*NH34 : Kanayama Station *NH33 : Jingū-mae Station *ST01 :

Nagoya Line (east side) and Toyokawa Line

*NH01 :

Toyohashi Station is an interchange railway station in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan, operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tōkai) and the private railway operator Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu). Lines Toyohashi Station is served by the high-speed Tokaido Shin ...

(Toyohashi) *NH13 : Higashi Okazaki Station (Okazaki) *NH17 :

Shin Anjō Station is a train station, railway station in the city of Anjō, Aichi, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Lines Shin Anjō Station is served by the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line and Meitetsu Nishio Line. It is a terminal station, terminus for ...

(Anjō) *NH19 :

Chiryū Station 270px, Platforms is a railway station in the city of Chiryū, Aichi, Japan, operated by Meitetsu. Lines Chiryū Station is served by both the Mikawa Line and the Nagoya Main Line. It is 41.3 kilometers from the terminus of the Nagoya Line at ...

(Chiryū) *NH23 :

Zengo Station file:Zengo Station platform.jpg, 250px, Platforms file:Typical station track map LD24-1.svg, 250px, Track layout is a train station, railway station in the city of Toyoake, Aichi, Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, M ...

(Toyoake) *TK04 : Toyokawa-inari Station (Toyokawa)

Tokoname Line, Chikkō Line, and Airport Line

*TA09 :

Ōtagawa Station is a junction train station, railway station in the city of Tōkai, Aichi, Tōkai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Lines Ōtagawa Station is served by the Meitetsu Tokoname Line, and is located 12.3 kilometers fr ...

(Tokai) *TA12 : Asakura Station (Chita) *TA22 : Tokoname Station (Tokoname) *TA24 : Central Japan International Airport Station

Kōwa Line and Chita New Line

*KC08 : Agui Station (Agui) *KC12 : Chita Handa Station (Handa) *KC16 : Chita Taketoyo Station (Taketoyo) *KC19 :

Kōwa Station is a train station in the town of Mihama, Chita District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Meitetsu. Lines Kōwa Station is a terminus the Meitetsu Kōwa Line, and is located 28.8 kilometers from the opposing terminus of the line at . Sta ...

(Mihama) *KC24 : Utsumi Station (Minami Chita)

Mikawa Line, Toyota Line, Nishio Line, and Gamagōri Line

*MY07 :

Toyotashi Station file:Meitetsu-Mikawa-line-Toyotashi-station-platform-20150503-162634.jpg, 270px, Platforms is a junction train station, railway station in the city of Toyota, Aichi, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Lines Toyotashi Station is serve ...

(Toyota) *TT06 : Nisshin Station (Nisshin) *MU02 :

Kariya Station is a railway station in the city of Kariya, Aichi, Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, jointly operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and the private railway operator Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Overview Kariya Station is served by ...

(Kariya) *MU06 :

Mikawa Takahama Station file:MT-Mikawa Takahama Station-Platform.jpg, 270px is a train station in the city of Takahama, Aichi, Takahama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Lines Mikawa Takahama Station is served by the Meitetsu Mikawa Line, ...

(Takahama) *MU10 : Hekinan-chūō Station (Hekinan) *GN10 : Nishio Station (Nishio) *GN13 : Kira Yoshida Station *GN22 :

Gamagōri Station file:Rail Tracks map Gamagōri Station.svg, station layout is a railway station in the city of Gamagōri, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, jointly operated by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tōkai) and Meitetsu. Lines Gamagōri Station is 310.6 ...

(Gamagōri)

Nagoya Line (west side), Takehana Line, and Hashima Line

*NH42 : Sukaguchi Station (Kiyosu) *NH47 : Kōnomiya Station (Inazawa) *NH50 :

Meitetsu Ichinomiya Station 220px, Track layout is a railway station in the city of Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Meitetsu. Lines Meitetsu Ichinomiya Station is served by the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line and is 86.4 kilometers from the starting point of th ...

(Ichinomiya) *NH56 : Kasamatsu Station (Kasamatsu) *NH60 :

Meitetsu Gifu Station is a railway station located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Meitetsu. It is one of the two major railway stations of the city along with JR Gifu Station. Lines Meitetsu Gifu Station is the ...

(Gifu) *TH07 : Hashima-shiyakusho-mae Station (Hashima)

Tsushima Line and Bisai Line

*TB01 :

Jimokuji Station is a train station, railway station in the city of Ama, Aichi, Ama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Lines Jimokuji Station is served by the Meitetsu Tsushima Line, and is located 2.0 kilometers from the starting ...

(Ama) *TB07 : Tsushima Station (Tsushima) *TB09 :

Saya Station is a railway station in the city of Aisai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Meitetsu. Lines Saya Station is served by the Meitetsu Bisai Line, and is located 4.8 kilometers from the starting point of the line at . Station layout The stati ...

(Aisai) *TB11 : Yatomi Station (Yatomi) *BS06 : Morikami Station *BS23 :

Okuchō Station is a train station, railway station in the city of Ichinomiya, Aichi, Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Lines Okuchō Station is served by the Meitetsu Bisai Line, and is located 29.4 kilometers from the ...

Inuyama Line, Kakamigahara Line, and Hiromi Line

*IY03 : Kami Otai Station *IY04 : Nishiharu Station (Kitanagoya) *IY07 : Iwakura Station (Iwakura) *IY10 : Kōnan Station (Kōnan) *IY15 : Inuyama Station (Inuyama) *IY17 : Shin Unuma Station *KG06 : Mikakino Station *KG08 :

Kakamigahara-Shiyakusho-mae Station is a railway station on the Meitetsu Kakamigahara Line in the city of Kakamigahara, Gifu, Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Meitetsu. Lines Kakamigahara Shiyakusho-mae Station is served by the Mei ...

(Kakamigahara) *HM06 : Shin Kani Station (Kani) *HM10 : Mitake Station (Mitake)

Komaki Line

*KM06 :

Komaki Station 270px, Track Layout is a railway station in the city of Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Meitetsu. Lines Komaki Station is served by the Meitetsu Komaki Line, and is located 9.8 kilometers from the starting point of the line at . ...

(Komaki) *KM13 : Kami Iida Station

Seto Line

*ST06 :

Ōzone Station is a railway station in Kita-ku, Nagoya, Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is the largest transport hub in Northeastern Nagoya, connecting the JR Chuo Line, Meitetsu Seto Line, Meijo Subway Line, and Yutorito Nagoya guideway bus line ...

*ST15 :

Owari Asahi Station 250px, Track Layout is a railway station in the city of Owariasahi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Meitetsu. Lines Owari Asahi Station is served by the Meitetsu Seto Line, and is located 14.7 kilometers from the starting point of the ...

(Owariasahi) *ST20 :

Owari Seto Station file:Rail Tracks map Meitetsu Owari-Seto Station.svg, Track Layout is a train station, railway station in the city of Seto, Aichi, Seto, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, operated by Nagoya Railroad, Meitetsu. Lines Owari Seto Station is a terminal stat ...

(Seto)

Rolling stock

Nippon Sharyo , formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock, Heavy equipment, heavy equipment, Diesel generator, generator, Special-purpose entity, special purpose vehicle and bridge manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its ...

has produced nearly every car that Meitetsu operates or has operated, a notable exception being its

Class EL120 The is a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement DC electric locomotive type operated by the private railway operator Meitetsu in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, since 2015. The two locomotives, numbered 121 and 122, replaced the fleet of Meitetsu's two DeKi 400 an ...

, an electric locomotive, which was produced by

Toshiba is a Japanese multinational electronics company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. Its diversified products and services include power, industrial and social infrastructure systems, elevators and escalators, electronic components, semiconductors ...

, but very few units were produced for Meitetsu. The Class EL120 is one of the few locomotives that Meitetsu possesses. The following are the train types that Meitetsu operates today, as well as selected types that Meitetsu has retired.

Limited express

* 1200 and 1230 series "Panorama Super" * 1800/1850 series * 2000 series "μ-Sky" * 2200/2300 series

Commuter

* 100/200 series * 300 series * 3100/3500/3700 series * 3150 series * 3300 series *

* 5000 series (2008) * 6000/6500/6800 series * 9100/9500 series

Withdrawn train types

* 1380 series * 1600 series "Panorama Super" * 1700 series *

"Panorama Car" * 5000 series (1955) * 5300/ 5700 series

Electric locomotives

Meitetsu DeKi 300 The is a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement electric locomotive type operated by private railway operator Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) in Japan. The locomotives were used primarily on track maintenance trains, but following their withdrawal in 2014, only on ...

Meitetsu DeKi 400 The was a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement electric locomotive type operated by private railway operator Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) in Japan. Operations Originally used to haul freight trains on the eastern end of the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line and Meite ...

Meitetsu DeKi 600 The was a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement electric locomotive type operated by private railway operator Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) in Japan from 1943 until 2015. Operations Originally used to haul freight trains, they were later used primarily on trac ...

* Meitetsu Class EL120

Rationalization

Meitetsu inherited many deficit lines as a result of multiple mergers. The railway lines were also seeing competition from cars due to Aichi prefecture's notable automobile industry in cities such as

Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...

. Meitetsu has abolished over 15 lines over the past 70 years, while also closing sections with low ridership. Additionally, with the collapse of the asset price bubble in the 1990s, and the privatization of

JNR The , abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987. Network Railways As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pre ...

, formation of

Central Japan Railway Company is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and occasionally as JR Tokai (). The term ''Tōkai'' refers to the southern portion of Central Japan, ...

, the company also cut the number of companies in its corporate group from 250 to 139.

References

External links

Nagoya Railroad (English Official Site)Nagoya Railroad (Japanese Official Site)Museum Meiji Village
{{Authority control Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Companies based in Nagoya Japanese companies established in 1921 Railway companies established in 1921 Companies listed on the Nagoya Stock Exchange