The , also known as "Shizutetsu", is a private railway in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and is majority owned by

Tokyu Corporation The is a Japanese multinational '' keiretsu'' (conglomerate) holding company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Its main operation is , a wholly owned subsidiary operating railways in the Greater Tokyo Area. History The oldest predecessor ...

. In addition to its railway business, the Shizuoka Railway Company owns large bus and taxi services, a department store, supermarkets, a construction company and real estate holdings.

History

The first Shizuoka Railway Company was founded in 1906. It was initially built to connect downtown Shizuoka with Shimizu Port, to facilitate the export of green tea, the major agricultural product of Shizuoka prefecture at the time. It became the Shizuoka branch of , a privately held narrow gauge railway operator with operations in many locations around Japan in 1908. The line was electrified in 1919 and became standard gauge in 1920. In 1923, the Shizuoka branch became independent as the . In 1943, the company was nationalized by the central government, and was merged with smaller railroad operations around Shizuoka Prefecture, under the new name of Shizuoka Railway. Its first chairman was Keita Gotō, founder of the

, which emerged as Shizuoka Railway’s primary shareholder after the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. Most of the rolling stock used by the Shizuoka Railway is used equipment purchased from the Tokyu Corporation.

Lines

The company operates the Shizuoka–Shimizu Line, which runs for from Shin-Shizuoka Station to

Shin-Shimizu Station 270px, Platforms in 2010 is a railway station in Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway company, Shizuoka Railway (Shizutetsu). Lines Shin-Shimizu Station is a terminal station on the Shizuoka–S ...

with 13 intermediate stations, and the

Nihondaira Ropeway The is Japanese aerial lift line in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, operated by Shizuoka Railway (Shizutetsu). Opened in 1967, the line climbs , a hill with views of the city, Suruga Bay, and Mount Fuji. The line does not accept ...

. Its highway bus system was spun off to a subsidiary company, Shizutetsu Justline, in 2002. Former tram lines operated by the company include: * , 1922–1962 * , 1928–1975 * , 1911-1970 * , 1902–1962

External links

* {{Authority control Railway companies of Japan Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Companies based in Shizuoka Prefecture Shizuoka (city) Railway companies established in 1919 Japanese companies established in 1919