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Japanese National Railways (日本国有鉄道 Nippon Kokuyū Tetsudō), abbreviated Kokutetsu (国鉄) or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1872 to 1987.
The term originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute. Later, the Railway Ministry and Ministry of Transportation and Communications took over control of JNR. During World War II, many JNR lines were dismantled to supply steel for the war effort.
In 1947, JNR was reorganized into a state-owned company by a directive of the U.S. General HQ in Tokyo. The new JNR enjoyed many successes, including the 1964 inauguration of high-speed Shinkansen service. However, the network's rapid expansion also pulled it further and further into debt as it took out huge loans to fund new capital projects.
By 1987, JNR's debt was over ¥25 trillion ($70 billion). That year, the network was privatized by an act of the Diet of Japan, and divided into several companies collectively called the Japan Railway (JR) Group. Contemporary offspring of JNR include the East Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, and Central Japan Railway Company.
Timeline October 14, 1872 - Opening ceremony at both Shimbashi (now Shiodome) and Yokohama (now Sakuragicho)
October 1, 1907 - 17 private railways taken over by the government
December 20, 1914 - Opening of Tokyo Station
November 1, 1925 - Inauguration of the Yamanote Loop Line
December 30, 1927 - Inauguration of Tokyo subway between Asakusa and Ueno
June 1, 1949 - Japanese National Railways organized
April 1, 1987 - Kokutetsu (Lit. Japanese National Railways; 国鉄 or 日本国有鉄道) was privatized and split into 11 companies.
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