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Interesting speculative article about what Odakyu may see as its primary competitors. Kanto is seen as having less heated competition between railways than Kansai (save maybe Keikyu/Keisei vs. JR East), but this highlights a possible battleground for passenger traffic. As a result of its four track mainline project, Odakyu is targeting a 4.3% increase in passenger traffic by 2020. In daily terms, this comes to an increase of about 80,000 to 90,000 passengers from the current number. The first rival is Keio Dentetsu, for the Nagayama/Tama Center to Shinjuku traffic. Keio has the advantage in passenger numbers currently, with daily riders from Tama Center using Keio numbering 84,000 to Odakyu's 48,500. It could be the prospect of competition with Odakyu that has led to Keio introducing 5 new trainsets with reserved seating by spring 2018. Another railway many may think would be a rival is Tokyu, with their Den'entoshi Line. But this line is already running at or over capacity, and it could be said that a fractional diversion of traffic to the Odakyu Line would be welcomed by Tokyu. The article then proposes that Odakyu's biggest rival for passengers will be Sotetsu, which is currently building a line eventually connecting with Tokyu at Hiyoshi via Shin-Yokohama (completion spring 2019). Not to mention a connection with JR East. The market would be for passengers from the Ebina and Shonandai areas, which currently Odakyu holds an advantage (daily 135,000 pax vs. 113,000 and 88,000 pax vs. 27,000, respectively). Sotetsu has an advantage post-construction over Odakyu in that its services begin at these stations, so passengers boarding at these stations have a better chance of securing a seat all the way to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Meguro. Asked about whether Sotetsu is favoring promoting services to Shibuya, or to Meguro via Hiyoshi (Meguro Line), the president of Sotetsu Group said he wanted to promote both. http://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/121002