Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)--Tokyu Corp. <9005> began on Monday a train service on its Setagaya Line in Tokyo that uses electricity generated 100 pct from renewable energy sources.

According to the railway operator, this is the first urban train service in Japan that relies entirely on renewable energy.

The Setagaya Line is now powered by geothermal and hydraulic power supplied by the Tohoku Electric Power Co. <9506> group.

Tokyu concluded an agreement with the utility group to receive on a continuing basis more renewable energy than needed for train operations, in order for the whole of the train service to use renewable energy, although at a higher electricity rate.

The 5-kilometer Setagaya Line, which connects Sangenjaya with Shimotakaido in central Tokyo, was used by a daily average of some 115,000 passengers in fiscal 2017, which ended in March 2018.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]