On January 17, 2025, Keifuku Electric Railroad (Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City) unveiled the new KYOTRAM, the first new train for Arashiyama Railway in 24 years. The train is painted in Arashiyama Railway's image color, Kyoto purple, with a rounded front and roof, giving it a retro and glamorous feel. It will begin operation on February 28.
Keifuku Electric Railroad will replace its 27 cars manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s with seven by fiscal 2028. The investment, including energy-saving storage devices, will total 1.9 billion yen.
There are 24 spacious, enveloping seats. There are also two spaces for wheelchairs and strollers. Surveillance cameras and sensors have been installed on the sides of the train to increase safety when boarding and disembarking. Destinations and warnings are displayed in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, and the entrances and exits have been widened to accommodate the increasing number of inbound tourists.
Railway Director Azuma Keiichi said, "We focused on creating a design that blends in with the scenery and lifestyles along the line. We've created a safe, comfortable, people-friendly vehicle while cutting power consumption in half compared to previous models."
The operation schedule up to May 6th will be announced the day before on Arashiyama Dentetsu's official X (formerly Twitter). In addition, a total of 60 people will be invited to the two trips operating on the first day for free. Applications can be made from noon on January 31st on the Keifuku Electric Railway's official website (lottery will be drawn and will close once capacity is reached).
