While the continuation of local railways is an issue, JR East has decided to consult with local governments with a view to converting some sections of the Kururi Line running in Chiba Prefecture to bus routes. .
This is the first time that JR East has started moving toward bus conversion due to unprofitability, and attention will be paid to the outcome of future discussions.
The JR Kururi Line is a 32.2-kilometer line that runs along the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. Since its opening in 1912, it has served as a means of transportation for people's daily lives. I was.
While the business environment is becoming severe due to the influence of the new corona, JR East is considering switching to a bus route for the 9.6 km section between Kururi Station and Kazusa Kameyama Station, which is one-third of the Kururi Line. It turns out that the policy of asking Kimitsu City for consultation has been solidified.
In 1987, the average number of passengers per day on this section was 823, but last year it was 55, a 90% decrease over the past 30 years, and the operating cost last year was 281 million yen. On the other hand, the income was 1 million yen and the deficit continued.
This is the first time that JR East has started moving toward bus conversion due to unprofitability since the division and privatization, and we would like to propose the expansion of bus routes.
The continuation of local railways has become an issue all over the country, and as the government encourages discussions on rebuilding public transportation, attention will be paid to future discussions.