The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has approved a plan to extend the third sector "Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway" in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, by more than 3 kilometers to improve access to the state-owned Hitachi Seaside Park, saying that stable profits can be expected.
The third sector "Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway", which runs 14.3 km in Hitachinaka City, aims to improve access to the state-owned Hitachi Seaside Park, which is visited by many tourists, from Ajigaura Station, which is the current end point, to near the park 3.1 I made a plan to extend the kilometer, and in August last year, I submitted a business license application to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism necessary to proceed with the plan.
As a result of the examination, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism approved it because it is expected to be used by residents and tourists along the railway lines such as commuting to work and school, and stable profits can be expected.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, it is the first time since 2000, when the Railway Business Law was amended, that an extension plan was approved for local railways other than trams.
With the permission, Kaihin Railway will enter into negotiations for the necessary procedures for starting construction and securing land, aiming to start using the extension section in Reiwa 6 years.
However, it is said that the project cost, which is estimated to be more than 7.8 billion yen, will be adjusted in the future, and the issue is how to procure the part that the company cannot bear.