A government panel of experts has called for a wholesale review of Japan's loss-making railway lines.
The shrinking population and a drop in train usage amid the pandemic mean that some regional services are no longer viable.
The transport ministry panel proposed on Monday the formation of consultative bodies made up of the authorities, railway operators, and other stakeholders.
They would discuss new options for unprofitable lines, including replacing them with bus services.
The experts suggest that consultations on lines in the Japan Railway group should start if the daily average of passengers per kilometer falls below 1,000.
They also defined some exemptions to the threshold. Potential alternatives to introducing bus services include local governments taking over ownership of stations and rail tracks.
That would enable operators to focus on daily services.
◆consultative body 諮問機関 providing advice and suggesting solutions to problems
The shrinking population and a drop in train usage amid the pandemic mean that some regional services are no longer viable.
The transport ministry panel proposed on Monday the formation of consultative bodies made up of the authorities, railway operators, and other stakeholders.
They would discuss new options for unprofitable lines, including replacing them with bus services.
The experts suggest that consultations on lines in the Japan Railway group should start if the daily average of passengers per kilometer falls below 1,000.
They also defined some exemptions to the threshold. Potential alternatives to introducing bus services include local governments taking over ownership of stations and rail tracks.
That would enable operators to focus on daily services.
◆consultative body 諮問機関 providing advice and suggesting solutions to problems
◆exemption 適用除外 permission not to do or pay something that you would normally have to do or pay
◆threshold （判定などの）基準値、境界値 a family of kings or other rulers whose parents, grandparents etc have ruled the country for many years