Randen, Kyoto – April, 2025 « modelrail.otenko

15Sep/250

Randen, Kyoto – April, 2025

I'd seen concept art for a new vehicle on this railway and had decided that I should visit it this trip since, well, it's been about a decade! I'm always preferring the trip-up-the-hill with the Eizan Dentetsu rather than the stroll-through-the-suburbs with Keifuku Electric Railroad (Randen)... but I couldn't resist seeing this new unit in the flesh.

The trip started off from Shin-Osaka, riding the Hankyu Kyoto Line through to Saiin Station. This location provides a direct transfer to the Sai Station on the Randen line, towards the eastern end of the Arashiyama Line.

The station is actually split across a major road, with the depot being located on the western side. I was there for 5 minutes and had vehicles shunting in and out continuously.

The line also has a high operating frequency as it carries tourists out to Arashiyama.

Before-long my westbound service came through to take me to Katabiranotsuji Station, where the Kitano Line branches off.

Katabiranotsuji is a two-platform covered station with the major Arashiyama Line passing through the middle. The Kitano line is a terminated to two docks on the northern side of platform 1. This allows one service to arrive as another is readying to depart, very much like Demachiyanagi Station on the Eiden.

Still no hints of the new vehicle, was it even running today? I decided to travel a few stops up the Kitano Line to Narutaki Station where the Kitano Line reduces to single-track.

And then it appeared!

I had to be on the wrong platform to get a good photo, but fortunately made it onto the train for the ride back into Katabiranotsuji.

It's such an amazing design... it nearly has the Metropolis 2001 Anime Art Deco styling about it with those chrome-trimmed headlights. It's beautiful. As that it was turning to run back up the Kitano Line, I wandered to the next station up the Kitano Line to get some final photos.