Japan Railway

Japan Railway, more commonly called JR, is a collective term for former Japanese national, but devided and privatized seven railway companies. It is severely distinguished from genuine private railways in Japan.

They are:

• JR Hokkaido or Hokkaido Railway Company (北海道旅客鉄道 or JR北海道)
• JR Higashi Nihon or East Japan Railway Company (東日本旅客鉄道 or JR東日本)
• JR Tokai or Central Japan Railway Company (東海旅客鉄道 or JR東海)
• JR Nishi Nihon or West Japan Railway Company (西日本旅客鉄道 or JR西日本)
• JR Shikoku or Shikoku Railway Company (四国旅客鉄道 or JR四国)
• JR Kyushu or Kyushu Railway Company (九州旅客鉄道 or JR九州)
• JR Kamotsu or Japan Freight Railway Company (日本貨物鉄道 or JR貨物)

In addition, there is JR Soken (JR総研), a research institution.

History

Here is some history of the Japan Railway, according to information provided by the Japan Railways Technical Research Institute ( http://www.rtri.or.jp/japanrail/JapanRail_E.html ):

October 14, 1872 - Opening ceremony at both Shimbashi (now Shiodome) and Yokohama (now Sakuragicho)

October 1, 1907 - 17 private railways taken over by the government

December 20, 1914 - Opening of Tokyo Station

November 1, 1925 - Inauguration of the Yamanote Loop Line

December 30, 1927 - Inauguration of Tokyo subway between Asakusa and Ueno

June 1, 1949 - Japanese National Railways organized

April 1, 1987 - Kokutetsu (Lit. Japanese National Railways; 国鉄 or 日本国有鉄道) was privatized and split into 11 companies.

See also: List of railway companies in Japan, Railroad, Private railroad, Shinkansen, Transportation in Japan