A Kintetsu Railway local train derailed at Kyoto Station early Monday morning, though no passengers were injured [1], [2].
The incident disrupted critical commuter links in the region. The derailment forced the suspension of mutual through-service with the Kyoto City Subway and halted operations between Kyoto Station and Kami-Toba-guchi Station [1], [4].
According to Kintetsu Railway, the derailment occurred at approximately 5:13 a.m. [1]. Other reports placed the time of the incident closer to 5:15 a.m. [3]. The train, which was a four-car local service bound for Kashiharajingu-mae, jumped the tracks within the Kyoto Station premises [1], [3].
Reports on the number of passengers on board varied. Kintetsu Railway said there were approximately 10 passengers on the train [2], while other reports indicated there were about 30 people [3]. Railway officials said all passengers were safe and were guided on foot to Kyoto Station by staff [2].
Kintetsu Railway said it is currently investigating the cause of the derailment [1], [3]. No further details regarding the mechanical or operational state of the tracks have been released as of Monday morning.
The derailment occurred during the early morning hours, minimizing the number of passengers on board but creating significant delays for the start of the Monday morning commute. Staff focused on the safe evacuation of the small group of passengers before beginning the recovery process for the four-car set [1], [2].
“No injuries were reported after a four-car local train derailed early Monday morning”
The suspension of mutual through-service between Kintetsu and the Kyoto City Subway creates a bottleneck for commuters entering the city center. While the low passenger count prevented casualties, the location of the derailment within a major hub like Kyoto Station complicates the removal of the rolling stock and the restoration of full service.
