The Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad Co., Ltd. (高松琴平電気鉄道株式会社) (or Kotoden) is a transportation company in Kagawa Prefecture, which is on the island of Shikoku, Japan. With headquarters in Takamatsu, the company operates three passenger railway lines, as well as bus subsidiaries. It was established on the 1st of November 1943. In 2021, it reported sales of ¥2,881,000,000 with a capitalization of ¥250,000,000.

History

The company traces its origins to 1909, when the Takamatsu Electric Tramway (高松電気軌道, Takamatsu Denki Kidō) was founded. This company opened the Nagao line on 30 April 1912 between Dehare (出晴) (close to the present Kawaramachi station) and Nagao station. The line was originally 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge and electrified at 600V DC, but it was regauged to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) in June 1945, and the overhead line voltage was raised to 1500V DC from December 1976. The Tosan Electric Railway company was established in 1910 and opened the Shido line on 18 November 1911 between Imabashi and Shido station (now Kotoden-Shido). The line was electrified at 600V DC. The line voltage was increased to 1500V DC from August 1966. The Kotohira Electric Railway was established in 1924, with the line opening on 21 December 1926 between Ritsurin-Kōen and Takinomiya. Kotoden was established by the wartime (1943) merger of these three rail lines in the Takamatsu area. Immediately after its establishment, it absorbed the bus transportation operations in the vicinity. Aerial bombing destroyed some lines during the war. After the war, the company extended its line to Takamatsu Chikkō Station, a few minutes walk from JR Shikoku's Takamatsu Station. Its network took its present form in the early 1950s. Since the beginning of the 21st century, three new stations have opened on the Kotohira Line: Kūkōdōri on 29 July 2006, Ayagawa on 15 December 2013 and Fuseishi on 28 November 2020.

Lines and infrastructure

Kotoden operates three lines: A 16 km line from Busshozan (on the Kotohira line) to Shionoe operated between 1929 and 1941. It was replaced by a bus service.

Train services and rolling stock planning

Kotoden operates a pattern timetable on all three lines.

Kotohira Line

The variation in peak vs. off-peak demand/frequencies is also used in a smart way to get the trains in and out of their respective depots, so that very little empty runs are needed. Four trainsets start and end in Kotohira, two in Takinomiya and another four at the main depot, located at Busshozan station. Basically, all services are operated with two cars, but during the peak hours, most trains are operated with four cars. The lengthening/shortening of the trains is done in Busshozan.

Nagao Line

Basically, all trains run end to end, but shorter workings (starting/ending in Hiragi or Kawaramachi) are used to get the trains in and out of the depots. Three trains start and end in Nagao, three trains in Kawaramachi and one train in Hiragi. The eighth trainset starts/ends in Takamatsu-Chikkō (empty running from/to the main Busshozan depot for cleaning/maintenance). All trains run in a two-car formation.

Shido Line

Except for the extra peak hour services, all trains run end to end. Two trains start in Shido and four trains in Kawaramachi (Imabashi depot). All trains run in a two-car formation.

Rolling stock

Having inherited most of its rolling stock from different areas across Japan (notably, Keikyu, Keiō and Nagoya Municipal Subway), Kotoden is also known as the “Moving Train Museum” As of October 2020, Kotoden has 80 passenger cars. Of these, 40 were in use on the Kotohira Line, 20 on the Nagao Line, and 20 on the Shido Line. It also has two heritage cars.

Other

In 1997 the railroad was the first to introduce new track safety precautions in order to combat the rising number of suicides committed by people jumping in front of a train. In the first year after new measures were implemented, the number of train suicides linked to Kotoden fell by 40%. In 2001 Kotoden went bankrupt. This was followed by a survey, asking the citizens: “do you need Kotoden or not?". In Japanese this question is translated as "iru ka", which sounds the same as the Japanese word for “dolphin”. As a result, Kotoden chose a dolphin as its mascot in 2002. In doing so, the company always reminds itself to become a company needed by the citizens. In February 2005, the company introduced its smart card ticketing system, which is named IruCa. In 2011 Kotoden celebrated its 100th anniversary. Many railway companies in Japan (and other countries) have adopted "one-man" or driver-only operation, in order to reduce operational expenses. Despite its financial difficulties, Kotoden has chosen not to do so: all trains remain staffed by a driver and a controller. More than a quarter of its stations are staffed as well. In the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kotoden painted one of its trains in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, along with a message in support for the employees of Ukrzaliznitsya. The train is set to enter in service on 19 April 2022.