JR Geibi Line's first reconstruction council in the country discusses continuation of the line and conversion to buses

Highlights: JR Geibi Line's first reconstruction council in the country discusses continuation of the line and conversion to buses. Council plans to reach a conclusion within three years. Council will focus its discussion on a 68.5-kilometer "specific section" that connects Bingo-Shobara Station in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture and Bicchu Jindai Station in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture. Discussion on the form of public transportation that suits local circumstances without assuming its continued existence or abolition.

[NHK] As difficult management continues on the JR Geibi Line, which connects Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures, the first meeting of the Restructuring Council to discuss the continuation of the line and conversion to buses was held on the 26th...

As the JR Geibi Line, which connects Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures, continues to face difficult business conditions, the first meeting of the Restructuring Council was held in Hiroshima City on the 26th to discuss the continuation of the line and its conversion to buses. This is the first time in the country that a rebuilding council has been held.

Bingo-Shobara Station - Bicchu Jindai Station 68.5km "Specific section" intensive discussion
Discussion on the form of public transportation that suits local circumstances without assuming its continued existence or abolition.

Resident: “If the number increases, it will be easier to use.”
JR West “Create a convenient and sustainable transportation system based on needs”
Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture “Indispensable for town development”
Hiroshima Prefecture: “The cost burden is heavy, but local sustainability is a major point of view”
Okayama Prefecture: "It's best for JR to operate as usual"
Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture “An essential means of transportation”

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Bingo-Shobara Station - Bicchu Jindai Station 68.5km "Specific section" intensive discussion
Discussion on the form of public transportation that suits local circumstances without assuming its continued existence or abolition.
Resident: “If the number increases, it will be easier to use.”
JR West “Create a convenient and sustainable transportation system based on needs”
Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture “Indispensable for town development”
Hiroshima Prefecture: “The cost burden is heavy, but local sustainability is a major point of view”
Okayama Prefecture: "It's best for JR to operate as usual"
Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture “An essential means of transportation”

The first meeting of the JR Geibi Line Reconstruction Council was held in Hiroshima City, with participants including the China Transport Bureau, Hiroshima Prefecture, Okayama Prefecture, and local governments along the line, as well as JR West, the Bus Association, and academic experts. Did.

At the outset, Hiroshi Masuda, Director-General of the China Transport Bureau, said, ``The usage situation is very severe, and we will proceed with discussions on what to do about the current situation based on facts and data, without assuming the abolition or continuation of the railway. "We hope to have meaningful discussions as this issue attracts attention from local governments across the country," he said in his greeting.

Bingo-Shobara Station - Bicchu Jindai Station 68.5km "Specific section" intensive discussion

The council will focus its discussion on a 68.5-kilometer "specific section" that connects Bingo-Shobara Station in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture and Bicchu Jindai Station in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture.

At the meeting on the 26th, it was decided to form a board of directors and consider a demonstration project to promote the use of railways and verify the effects of switching to buses.

This is the first time in the country that the Reconstruction Council has been held, and based on the results of the demonstration project, the public transportation system will be decided in accordance with the actual situation of the region, such as whether to continue using railways or abolishing them and replacing them with buses. It will be discussed.

The council plans to reach a conclusion within three years.

Discussion on the form of public transportation that suits local circumstances without assuming its continued existence or abolition.

The Reconstruction Council does not assume that the railway will continue or be abolished, but rather conducts demonstration projects to improve the convenience of railways and verify the effects of switching to buses, and to develop public transportation that suits local circumstances. I'm going to think about it.

Specifically, the planned demonstration project is to verify whether increasing the number of passengers will actually increase by increasing convenience, such as increasing the number of trains, changing the schedule, and making better use of the station building and station plaza.

In addition, in order to verify the effect of converting sections where trains run to buses, we will increase the number of route buses that run in parallel and create new bus routes to check the increase and decrease of users and improve daily life. We plan to examine the impact of

The government will provide up to 50 million yen in subsidies per year for these demonstration projects.

On the other hand, they are also considering creating a place to listen to the opinions of residents and users along the line.

The council will examine the results of these demonstration projects and usage status data from the perspectives of convenience and sustainability, and then compile a "restructuring policy" for the future of public transportation within three years. I am planning to do so.

Resident: “If the number increases, it will be easier to use.”

My name is Yatagami Yasemi (61), and I live about a minute's walk from Nochie Station.

In my daily life, I don't use the Geibi Line, and for shopping I use supermarkets in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, which is about a 10-minute drive across the prefectural border.

There are only 11 round trips on the Geibi Line even on weekdays, and Yadaya says, ``If you want to go shopping using the Geibi Line, it would take at least five hours or more for a round trip, so it's not realistic.''

Mr. Yatagaya has lived near Nochi Station ever since he was born, except for when he was in college.

Having used the Geibi Line himself when he was in high school, he says that if the number of trains increases, it will be easier for people living in the area to use it.

Commenting on the start of discussions at the Reconstruction Council, Mr. Yadaya said, ``If it disappears, it will be more sad than a problem.For people who don't have cars, we need to think carefully about the means of transportation in the section where the Geibi Line is currently running.'' I want it,” he said.

Council participants are

JR West “Create a convenient and sustainable transportation system based on needs”

Kenji Hirooka, Branch Manager, JR West Hiroshima Branch

: ``Based on environmental changes such as expected population decline, regional transportation needs, and characteristics, we are holding discussions to create a transportation system that is more convenient and sustainable for the region than currently. I want to"

Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture “Indispensable for town development”

Naoki Ohara, Deputy Mayor of Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, which is located along the railway line, said, ``It

is essential for supporting the movement of high school students and the elderly and advancing town development. We want to pursue as much new value and roles as possible that cannot be replaced by other modes of transportation."

Hiroshima Prefecture: “The cost burden is heavy, but local sustainability is a major point of view”

Hiroshima Prefecture Vice Governor Yuko Tamai

: ``In hilly and mountainous areas, there is a labor shortage due to the declining birthrate and aging population, and the cost burden of public transportation is heavy for local transportation companies and local governments, so regional sustainability becomes a major point of view. It is necessary to pursue the maximum potential of the Geibi Line by developing all kinds of initiatives, such as improving convenience and uncovering latent demand."

Okayama Prefecture: "It's best for JR to operate as usual"

Okayama Prefecture Vice Governor Katsunori Kamibo

: ``I believe it is best for JR to continue to operate as it currently is.While protecting the lives of local residents first, we are considering a wide range of specific measures and discussing them.'' want to go"

Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture “An essential means of transportation”

Tetsuto Noma, Deputy Mayor of Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture,

called for its continuation, saying, ``Niimi City has developed together with the railway.Today, it remains an indispensable means of transportation for high school students and the elderly.''

He also stated that, bearing in mind that the subject of the council was the entire Geibi Line, and that the section within Hiroshima Prefecture was long, ``I would like to ask for consideration so that there is no imbalance between regions during the consultation.'' .