December 14, 2022

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Tamura Tomoko held a press conference in the Diet building on December 13 to publish a JCP proposal regarding the nationwide railway network and the maintenance of unprofitable routes.

An advisory panel to the Ministry of Transport in July proposed talks between JR companies and municipalities in regard to the abandonment of some local railway lines following the announcement by JR on unprofitable routes and lines. Reportedly, the government is preparing to submit a bill based on the proposal to the ordinary session of the Diet next month.

Under the panel proposal, about 50 routes of more than 60 railway lines nationwide will be streamlined, and passengers will likely be asked to pay higher fares and local municipalities along the targeted routes will be asked to bear a fiscal burden to make up for JR "deficits" in order to avoid having the routes shut down.

However, most rural municipalities are financially vulnerable and suffering from depopulation and weakened local economies. The JCP criticizes the panel proposal for making these rural areas choose between "the railway abandonment or a fiscal crunch".

The JCP proposes that financial support be provided to maintain the current lines and routes JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku, and JR Kyushu own, and that all lines of JR East, JR Tokai, and JR West which have abundant internal reserves be fully maintained.

In addition, the JCP proposes that a public transportation fund be established to support local transport services, and that a recovery system after a disaster be created for a smooth and prompt reconstruction of damaged railroads.