Japan regional train line becomes reservation-only tourist train service

In July, Oigawa Railway Co. transformed the Ikawa Line, a 25.5-kilometer commuter train route in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, into a reservation-only tourist train service. Despite initial resistance from the local community due to a steep fare increase from distance-based to a flat rate of 3,500 yen ($22), the railway company proceeded with the change.

The line, also known as the Minami-Alps Abt Line, is the first in Japan to undergo this transition from a local commuter train to a reservation-only tourist service. The railway utilizes Japan's sole Abt rack-and-pinion locomotives, specifically designed to tackle steep gradients found in the mountainous terrain it traverses. Oigawa Railway CEO Akira Torizuka expressed the company's intent to move forward in collaboration with the local community during a press conference in June.

However, this plan faced criticism from Kawanehoncho, a town along the railway, which was only informed of the changes in April. The municipal council members accused the company of providing insufficient information and being insincere in their communication. Torizuka later deleted a blog post expressing his frustration with the council members, but it sparked a group of council members to issue a protest letter.

Alongside the Ikawa Line, Oigawa Railway also owns the Oigawa Main Line, a popular route featuring a Thomas the Tank Engine train. The two lines were previously connected but were separated after a typhoon in 2022, isolating the Ikawa Line. Restoration efforts have been costly, and ridership on both lines has not returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

The Ikawa Line, in particular, has seen no commuter pass users in the past 15 years recorded. Midori Nakahara, vice chair of the town council, acknowledged that while the fare hike was not opposed outright, what was missing was a detailed discussion on the matter. Despite a 10 percent decrease in ridership since July 2022 compared to the previous year, revenue has risen, with reservations being particularly strong ahead of the fall high season.