tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post1521709287033020037..comments2023-04-05T17:06:16.630+09:00Comments on Japanese Landscape and Locations: The Death and Life of Japanese Railwayssleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-33960033015262851482009-04-23T09:35:00.000+09:002009-04-23T09:35:00.000+09:00I'm not sure what you mean. The JR West and Shinte...I'm not sure what you mean. The JR West and Shintetsu lines are still running to Ao.<br /><br />Thanks for linking the video!sleepytakohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-3033512836179199182009-04-21T20:27:00.000+09:002009-04-21T20:27:00.000+09:00For those who would like to duplicate sleepytako&#...For those who would like to duplicate sleepytako's ride on the Hojo Railway but can't get to Japan, there's a great video of th entire line taken from the front of the train here:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ISTUWmZf1U&feature=channel_page<br /><br />Just one question: why would the track connecting this branch line and the main line at Ao have been removed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-60343874196379332202008-02-21T23:18:00.000+09:002008-02-21T23:18:00.000+09:00Thank you for your comments. As I don't have the t...Thank you for your comments. <BR/><BR/>As I don't have the time or Japanese ability to fully research the situation as of yet, I tried to give as basic, yet informative, overview of the situation to put the photos in context to some degree.<BR/><BR/>I wasn't too sure about the actual running of the railway I left it at non-profit (perhaps not-for-profit might have been better wording) in the post rather than expand on the relation of third sector companies to city/prefecture/national government.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for those numbers. They say a lot but it makes we wonder why they didn't just abandon it during the JR break up--going back to one of my hypothesis. Was the line profitable prior to the break up? Who constituted the major ridership? School children? Salary men? The lack on interest on the city's part is sadly not surprising.<BR/><BR/>Personally I doubt that even extending it thought to Shintetsu would have made much a difference, and would have cost a lot to go though those neighborhoods given their location and age. What market would it support? People between Suzurandai and Miki who want to go to Himeji? That group of people can't be too large and can be done by changing trains at Ao.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the dates. I was aware them from the on the Japanese Wikipedia page but chose not to include them, which, in hindsight, I should have.<BR/><BR/>I'm going to try to post more things like this in the future. (Which means, hopefully, my job will get easier soon.) I hope you continue to read and comment.sleepytakohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-65520473151629587962008-02-21T17:37:00.000+09:002008-02-21T17:37:00.000+09:00Hi, you wrote that Third-Sector Companies are not ...Hi, you wrote that Third-Sector Companies are not for profit. Well, they are not for profit, but they are also not to make losses all the time. Third sector is common in Japan, and means a cooperation of public and private enterprises, although in most cases it is the public pushing something trough with only little effort by the private companies involved.<BR/><BR/>The railway closed first of all, because the city (which is the main stockholder) obviously is not so interested in it. They could have tried to integrate it into city planning, could have extended it to the Kobe Dentetsu via city hall. The railway lost 50% of its passengers in the last 20 years, and did the city take any action?<BR/><BR/>Of course, the main commuter flow from Miki must be to Kobe, and the Miki Railway connects to Kakogawa, so that is a disadvantage, without doubt.<BR/><BR/>By the way, the railway was opened as a private railway in 1916, and nationalized in 1943.<BR/><BR/>But you are correct, it is a sad development, and also normal in Japan that railfans and others rush to see/photograph and ride a train during the last months of its life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com