On October 31st, Keisei Electric Railway Company made a press release announcing that Keisei will absorb Shin-Keisei Electric Railway Company in April, 2025.
Let me review Keisei Electric Railway and Shin-Keisei Electric Railway. Keisei is one of the major private railway companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It was established in 1909 to transport worshippers to the famous temple, Shinsho-ji. Keisei currently owns a total of 152.3-kilometer-long railway network in the eastern part of Tokyo and northern Chiba Prefecture. The airport access limited express, "Skyliner", is famous for being Keisei's flagship train. On the other hand, Shin-Keisei (New Keisei) is an affiliate firm of Keisei Electric Railway Company in Chiba Prefecture. It owns a 26.5-kilometer-long railway route connecting Matsudo on the JR East Joban line and Tsudanuma on the Keisei Main line. Shin-Keisei was constructed as a training line by the Railway Regiment of the ex-Japanese Army in 1929. After WWII, the railway track was sold to Keisei Electric Railway Company. Then, it was reopened as the Shin-Keisei line of Shin-Keisei Electric Railway Company in 1947.
Keisei has made Shin-Keisei a wholly-owned subsidiary last year through a share exchange. As the second step, Keisei will absorb Shin-Keisei in 2025 to maximize synergies by making faster decisions and improving business efficiency. I hope that the merger will provide Keisei and Shin-Keisei with a more stable business. At the same time, as a rail fan, I wish the unique trains on the Shin-Keisei line will be active on the track for a long time.
