On the 24th, a demonstration experiment was conducted to transport vegetables from Kagoshima prefecture to Fukuoka by Shinkansen and truck toward the start of the business of transporting luggage on the Kyushu Shinkansen.
While the number of railway users is decreasing due to the influence of the new coronavirus, JR Kyushu has agreed with Sagawa Express to embark on a business to transport luggage by Shinkansen in order to diversify profits.
By using the Shinkansen, it is possible to transport between Fukuoka and Kagoshima in less than half the time compared to trucks. , A demonstration experiment was conducted to carry it to Fukuoka.
At Kagoshima Chuo Station, the driver of the Sagawa Express truck handed the luggage to the JR side at the cargo handling area and checked the time it took to carry it to the Shinkansen platform.
In addition, on the Shinkansen, luggage was placed in the space used for in-car sales, and when the Shinkansen arrived at Hakata Station in about an hour and a half, it was immediately handed over to the waiting driver.
Kunitada Kato, sales manager of JR Kyushu, said, "I expect that the fresh products from Kagoshima can be delivered directly to Hakata's customers on the same day."
In addition, Kenji Hagiwara, Chief of Product Planning Division, Sagawa Express Tokyo Headquarters, said, "I found that there were almost no problems with the time allocation of transportation and the place to pack luggage. I would like to work toward realization."
Based on this result, JR Kyushu and Sagawa Express want to start transporting luggage by Shinkansen even after the Golden Week holidays in May.