The prefectural council for maintaining JR lines in Hyogo Prefecture was held for the first time, and it was decided to consider measures to promote utilization for each line and to conclude by January next year.
In April, JR West announced the status of income and expenditure for each line section of regional lines with particularly few users, and in the section over Hyogo prefecture, 4 lines and 6 lines such as the San-in Line and Kishin Line were in the red. Was there.
Under these circumstances, Hyogo Prefecture held the first meeting of a council consisting of local governments, JR, and experts along the railway line on the 24th to hold discussions to maintain the route.
Among them, Masaharu Kunihiro, president of JR West Kobe Branch, said, "The decrease in users is becoming more serious, and management efforts are reaching the limit. Attachment to railways and nostalgia are intangible assets, but we are particular about it. If it is too much, it will not lead to the solution of the essential problem. "
On the other hand, the person in charge of the prefecture complained that all the routes are important not only for the daily life of the residents such as going to school and hospital, but also for disasters and sightseeing.
Then, the council confirmed the policy of setting up working teams for each of the four routes to consider measures to promote utilization and to compile conclusions by January next year.
Governor Saito said, "Railways are an indispensable infrastructure for living, employment, tourism, and protecting lives. We would like to seek future-oriented public-private partnerships not only for temporary use promotion measures but also for continuous use." Said.