DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Energy & Infrastructure

Japan's Oigawa Railway converts entire line to reservation-only tourist service amid local backlash

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Japan's Oigawa Railway has converted its entire Ikawa Line into a reservation-only tourist service.
  • The change, which includes a significant fare increase, has faced backlash from the local community.
  • The railway aims to attract tourists to the scenic mountainous route, which uses unique Abt rack-and-pinion locomotives.

A local commuter train line in central Japan has been transformed into a reservation-only tourist service, marking what is believed to be the country's first such conversion along an entire route.

We want to move forward together with the local community.

— Akira TorizukaOigawa Railway CEO Akira Torizuka speaks at a press conference on June 2 about the railway's plans.

Oigawa Railway converted its 25.5km Ikawa Line, also known as the Minami-Alps Abt Line, in Shizuoka Prefecture in July. The line traverses a mountainous area renowned for its scenery and operates Japan's only Abt rack-and-pinion locomotives, designed for steep gradients. Despite a significant price hike from a distance-based fare to a flat rate of 3,500 yen (approximately $28), the railway proceeded with the change, drawing attention from railway companies nationwide grappling with declining ridership due to depopulation.

The decision has not been without controversy. The town of Kawanehoncho, situated along the line, was only informed of the changes in April, leading to protests from municipal council members who deemed the announcement "insufficiently explained and insincere." Oigawa Railway CEO Akira Torizuka initially criticized the council members on his blog, stating, "It is difficult to gain the understanding of people living in the mountains of the countryside." He later deleted the post, but a group of town council members issued a letter of protest.

It is difficult to gain the understanding of people living in the mountains of the countryside.

— Akira TorizukaTorizuka wrote this on his personal blog, criticizing local council members' reaction to the changes.

Midori Nakahara, vice-chair of the town council, clarified that the opposition was not to the fare increase itself, but to the lack of detailed discussion. The Ikawa Line was previously connected to the Oigawa Main Line, which features a popular Thomas the Tank Engine train. However, typhoon damage in 2022 separated the lines, isolating the Ikawa Line. Restoration costs have been high, and ridership on both lines has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. With depopulation along the Ikawa Line, there have been no commuter pass users in the past 15 years for which records are available.

It was not that we opposed the fare increase, we simply wanted to discuss the details.

— Midori NakaharaThe vice-chair of the town council explains the community's concerns regarding the railway's changes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog