Japan - [WTM] Railway & Travel News

Outlook for restarting operation on partial section of Hisatsu Orange Railway (updated on August 5, 2020)

August 5, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Hisatsu Orange Railway (肥薩おれんじ鉄道) is disrupting operations between Yatsushiro Station (八代, Kumamoto) and Minamata Station (水俣, Kumamoto) due to the effects of the heavy rain disaster in July, 2020. The substitute bus transportation is available between Yatsushiro Station and Minamata Station. The train operation will be resumed on Saturday, August 8, 2020 between Sashiki Station (佐敷, Kumamoto) and Minamata Station.

Operation resumed on Hakone Tozan Railway between Hakone-yumoto and Gōra

July 23, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Hakone Tozan Railway (箱根登山鉄道) restarted train operation between Hakone-yumoto Station (箱根湯本, Kanagawa) and Gōra Station (強羅, Kanagawa) on Thursday (Holiday), July 23, 2020, which has been disrupted due to the disaster caused by the typhoon No. 19, 2019.

Operation resumed on JR Yosan Line between Uchiko and Iyo-ōzu (updated on July 20, 2020)

July 20, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

JR Shikoku resumed train operation on Yosan Line (予讃線) between Uchiko Station (U10: 内子, Ehime) and Iyo-ōzu Station (U14: 伊予大洲, Kyoto) on July 20, 2020, that has been disrupted due to the effects of the heavy rain disaster in July, 2020.

Kumagawa Railroad is disrupted until restoration between Hitoyoshionsen and Yunomae (updated on July 18, 2020)

July 18, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Kumakawa Railroad (くま川鉄道) is disrupting operations on all lines between Hitoyoshionsen Station (人吉温泉, Kumamoto) and Yunomae Station (湯前, Kumamoto) for the time being due to the effects ofthe heavy rain disaster in July, 2020. They are carrying out the substitute bus service between Hitoyoshionsen Station and Yunomae Station from Monday, July 20, 2020 (only weekdays).

Operation resumed on Heisei Chikuho Railway Tagawa Line between Saigawa and Yusubaru (updated on July 18, 2020)

July 18, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Heisei Chikuho Railway (平成筑豊鉄道) resumed the train operation on Tagawa Line (田川線) in the section between Saigawa Station (HC24: 犀川, Fukuoka) and Yusubaru Station (HC21: 油須原, Fukuoka) on Saturday, July 18, 2020, that has been disrupted due to the effects of the heavy rain disaster in July, 2020.

Eizan Railway Kurama Line between Ichihara and Kurama disrupted until restoration

July 11, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Eizan Railway (叡山電鉄) is disrupting operations of Kurama Line (鞍馬線) between Ichihara Station (E14: 市原, Kyoto) and Kurama Station (E17: 鞍馬, Kyoto) for the time being due to the effects of the heavy rain disaster in July, 2020. Landslides, many fallen trees, and collapsed utility poles have occurred near Kibuneguchi Station. They expect that it will take a considerable number of days to restart operation on this sections.

New station Toranomon Hills opens on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

July 6, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Toranomon Hills Station (虎ノ門ヒルズ, H06), a new station built between Kamiyacho Station and Kasumigaseki Station on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (Tōkyō), launched operations on June 6, 2020. The station is located in the redevelopment area centered around Toranomon Hills Mori Tower, and a bus terminal for the “Tokyo BRT (bus high-speed transport system)” that connects the waterfront and the city center will be constructed. People can transfer to Toranomon Station on Ginza Line (G07) via the underground passage or above ground. In addition, with the opening of Toranomon Hills Station, the station numbers between Kasumigaseki Station and Kitasenju Station on Hibiya Line has been changed. On the same day, Ginza…

Hokushin Kyūkō Railway was municipalized and started operating as the Kobe City Subway Hokushin Line

June 1, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

The Kobe Municipal Transportation Bureau took over the Hokushin Kyūkō Line (北神急行線, between Tanigami <谷上> and Shin-Kōbe <新神戸> Stations) that was operated by the private company Hokushin Kyūkō Railway from the Hankyu Railway Group, and started business as the Kobe Subway Hokushin Line (神戸市営地下鉄北神線) on June 1, 2020. As before, the trains will continue to run from Tanigami Station to Seishin-chūō Station on the Seishin-Yamate Line. This is the first case in Japan that a private railway has been municipalized. Fares have been reduced across all lines, for example, the normal fare from Tanigami Station to Sannomiya Station was revised from 550 yen to 280 yen, which is about half…

‘Shin-tarō’ – New station on Sanriku Railway Rias Line has launched business

May 18, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

A new station, ‘Shin-tarō Station (新田老)’, has been established between Settai and Tarō stations (Iwate) on the Sanriku Railway Rias Line, and started business on May 18, 2020. The station was planned as a new base for Miyako City and was integrated with the new building of Taro General Office of Miyako City. The platform is directly connected to the 3rd floor of the building and is accessible to people using an elevator.

Operation resumed between Tōjō and Bingo-ochiai stations on JR Geibi Line

April 24, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

JR Geibi Line (芸備線) between Tōjō (東城) and Bingo-ochiai (備後落合) stations, which had been suspended due to a derailment accident, resumed operation from the first train on April 24, 2020. On March 9, an accident happened that a train climbed up on the earth and sand that flowed into the track between Tōjō and Bingo-yawata (備後八幡) stations, so they were suspending operation to remove the vehicle and perform restoration work.