JR Geibi Line and Kisuki Line at a Crossroads

This is Okuizumo Orochi, the glassless trolley-like sightseeing train operated by JR West.

In operation since 1998, this popular train welcomes approximately 15,000 passengers per year.

It runs on the Kisuki Line between Shimane and Hiroshima Prefectures.

The train's popularity is due to the line's two switchbacks,

which assist the train in climbing 170 meters.

Switchbacks are used on steep climbs.

Instead of climbing directly up the slope,

the train winds from one side of the slope's face to the other.

At the top of the climb, the train heads for Miinohara Station (JR West's highest point) 726 meters above sea level.

The view from the train is so spectacular it's called the "moving observatory."

Entering Hiroshima Prefecture, Okuizumo Orochi arrives at the terminal station.

The usually deserted station becomes crowded for a short time as the passengers disembark.

I'm so happy. It was like taking
a train to heaven.

I got everyone together to ride the train.
There are lots of great things to see.

However, despite the popularity of the sightseeing train,

the population along the line continues to decline while the company's deficit increases.

Furthermore, it's been announced that it will cease operation in 2023 due to its age,

calling into question the continued existence of the line.

In today's program, we take a look at the current state of loss-making local lines

in rural areas operating under severe business conditions.

In April 2022, JR West announced the financial status of 30 sections of 17 lines

with a "transport density" of less than 2,000 passengers,

which indicates the average number of passengers carried per day.

We can't proceed as we did before. The reality is,
everything is getting harder.

Our company, the national government,
and local governments form a trinity.

We'd like you to think of us as one entity.

Of those 30 sections, the three worst in terms of "income/expense ratio,"

were one section of the Kisuki Line and two sections of the Geibi Line,

both of which run in Hiroshima Prefecture.

The Chugoku Region, located in western Japan, consists of five prefectures, including Hiroshima.

Okayama, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi prefectures (all major urban areas) are located on the southern coast,

with the Sanyo Shinkansen running between them.

The mountainous area to the north, however, is sparsely populated.

One of the lines that runs in the mountains is the Kisuki Line,

on which the Okuizumo Orochi sightseeing train operates.

The Kisuki Line runs between Hiroshima Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture.

Until the late 1960s, the line was used for the mass transportation of passengers and freight.

However, with the declining population and the progress of motorization,

the Kisuki Line's passenger numbers have dwindled.

Now, the line is in danger of closing.

The section of the Kisuki Line ranked second worst (according to JR West's income/expense ratio)

costs 6,596 yen to make just 100 yen.

This Kisuki Line station averages just two passengers a day.

Excluding sightseeing trains, a total of six trains a day, running up and down, stop at this station.

The first and third worst sections (in terms of income and expenditure)

belong to the Geibi Line, which connects to the Kisuki Line.

The approximately 159 km Geibi Line connects Hiroshima Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture.

Starting at Hiroshima Station, the Geibi Line runs commuter and rapid services from the city to the nearby suburbs.

However, as the train enters the mountains beyond that point, passenger numbers decline,

and the service is reduced to single-car trains which run less frequently.

For the section with the worst income/expense ratio, it costs 25,416 yen to make just 100 yen.

JR-West has stated that it would be desirable to establish a council

with the national government and local governments along the line

to oversee the sections where the shortfall of revenue is most severe.

I think everyone understands that
the numbers are severe.

We'd like to work with the national government,
local governments, and residents

to create an easier-to-use regional transportation system
in line with regional urban development.

This looks serious.

So these were two of the most struggling railways under JR west.

And what really surprised me on the Geibi line, one section - it cost 20000 yen to earn 100 yen.

Yes, but that's only a part of the Geibi line.

And Geibi line itself is a really long railway and it reaches the big city of Hiroshima on one end

and there, the Geibi line is actually part of the urban network.

But of course, there is another end, which is on the rural side.

And also, there is the Kisuki line.

And the problem we see there,

is actually something that is common to many different parts of Japan,

where the population declines, ridership declines,

and then the railway operator starts to reduce the number of trains per day,

and then more people will choose not to go by rail and the vicious cycle continues.

The tourist train we saw at the start, of the Kisuki line,

that one looked really fun and popular, is that not enough?

Well, it certainly helps but in the current situation, I think it's not enough.

And well, one way for a railway like this to survive,

is to make the railway a sort of tourist-only railway.

And there are examples within Japan.

But in order for the Kisuki line to be successful in that direction,

I think people should try really hard to advertise the charm

of the Kisuki line to a wider audience across Japan.

Advertise the charm -

let's find out how local governments and local residents are working hard to keep their railway.

At Kisuki Line's Bingo-Ochiai station, where the sightseeing train turns back,

a man wearing a uniform can be seen cleaning the station.

Mr. Nagahashi Norio worked as a driver for the former Japanese National Railways and JR West.

Since 2017, he has worked as a volunteer guide.

The station, which has been in operation
for 87 years, used to be a key station.

Back then, the station employed 116 people.

Having known this station since childhood, Mr. Nagahashi has a strong desire to protect his hometown railway.

I don't want to see the tracks I spent
so much of my life on disappear.

Losing Bingo-Ochiai station would be like
losing my hometown.

I will protect the station as long as
I'm alive to tell its story.

Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture is home to 56 km (about one-third) of the Geibi Line.

With 14 stations located throughout the city,

the entire town is now working on ways to promote the use of the railway.

While Shobara City Office is located near Bingo-Shobara Station,

only a few of the 400-odd employees commuted to work using the Geibi Line.

Since 2021, in an effort to increase commuter usage of the Geibi Line, the city has held "usage promotion days."

Approximately 50 city employees take part in the initiative, which takes place twice a month.

The line runs through the region,
so I hope its use will continue.

I'd like the Geibi Line to stay with us forever,
so I'll help in any way I can.

And in an effort to encourage residents to use the Geibi Line, a subsidy program was established.

When a group of four or more use the Geibi Line from a station in the city,

two-thirds of the fare is subsidized.

Senior citizen's clubs and residents' organizations
use the line for group trips etc.

The program has been very well received.

Shobara City is also working to revitalize its train stations.

In 2004, Shobara City took over the station building from JR West at no cost.

It was renovated in 2020.

Local lumber was used in the station renovation.

The station was finished in a retro design,

retaining the appearance of the original station building.

The waiting room now has desks where visitors can relax while waiting for trains and buses.

And there is an all-purpose space that is free for anyone to use.

This communal space is for community and
club activities as well as exhibitions.

We've had events such as model train
displays and photo exhibits.

It's very lively during events.

As a regional public transportation hub,

a roundabout for buses and cabs was also constructed in front of the station for added convenience.

They also created a website that provides information about the Geibi Line and Kisuki Line.

People should remember that railways are a network
that allows movement throughout the country.

We want to promote efforts to protect them.

The Geibi Line runs from Shobara City across the prefectural border

to Niimi City in the neighboring prefecture of Okayama to the east.

Niimi City is also focusing on efforts to maintain public transportation such as railways and buses.

One of them is an experimental "taxi-share" service that operates on a reservation system.

Taxis stop at the homes of residents who've reserved rides at the same time.

The shared taxis take them to and from designated JR stations,

bus stops, medical facilities, and other locations around the community.

This experimental operation is run by a local taxi company using city-owned vehicles.

The 300 yen per person fare paid by the user is income collected by the city.

The advantage of this service is that we can go
right to the door just like a regular taxi.

That's especially helpful to the elderly
and people with mobility issues.

People can easily travel from their homes
to the station in time for the train.

We are trying to create an environment that
encourages the use of the Geibi Line.

Niimi City is preparing to roll out a full-scale taxi-sharing operation beginning this fall.

This train was made possible by local residents who live along the Geibi Line.

The new train color is bright red.

To encourage more people to use the Geibi Line,

its been wrapped with images that represent the Carp baseball team,

a professional team from Hiroshima Prefecture.

Red is the team color.

This is Mr. Sumida Norio, a member of the residents' group that launched the train wrapping project.

Born and raised in Shobara City, he has used the Geibi Line since childhood, but in recent years,

he'd seen how the Geibi Line had fallen into decline and felt a sense of urgency.

I started seeing empty trains.

I knew the situation was bad, but
I didn't actually know how bad.

It finally got so bad that we started talking about
what we could do to help.

The estimated cost to wrap the train was approximately 3 million yen.

To raise the money, Mr. Sumida and his group organized a fundraising campaign in Shobara City.

The group's activities gained the attention of local TV and newspapers.

Seeing this, the student council of a high school in Hiroshima City offered to donate money as well.

I got a phone call from a student asking
if we would accept a donation.

They said they used the Geibi Line to
get to school and wanted to help.

I was happy to hear that, especially
coming from someone younger.

Everyone seemed to believe in what
we were doing. That gave us hope.

More than 3 million yen in donations was raised in just two months.

In November 2021, the Carp train began operation.

On its first day, many people came from both inside and outside the prefecture,

filling the usually empty train car.

In March 2023, Mr. Sumida and his group organized a tour,

inviting local junior high school and high school students,

as well as students from the high school in Hiroshima City that helped raise funds

for the project, to ride the wrapped train.

You don't get views like this from the road.

I want to tell everyone how amazing the Geibi Line is.

It's generated a lot of interest in the Geibi Line.

Time will tell if it actually leads to
more people using the Geibi Line.

The wrapped train, made possible by the enthusiasm of residents living along the line,

will run until December this year.

Four high schools in the city are also working to keep the railway alive.

Because the railway is an essential means of transportation to and from school.

I have to get up early. The train is convenient
because my school is close to the station.

If I miss the train in the morning, I have
no way of getting to school.

As part of the school curriculum,

students at Saijoshisui Senior High School clean the facilities they use on a daily basis.

They also clean the waiting room and restrooms at Bingo Saijo Station,

the closest station to the high school.

On this day, they are painting the walls of the station building.

Commuting by train is an essential part
of the school experience.

As part of our efforts to revitalize
the station and the town,

our students are painting the station
to make it more welcoming.

We want to provide a warm welcome to people
coming to the station for the first time.

A clean station makes people feel good
as they head out to explore the town.

That's why we clean the station.

It's wonderful to see the local government and local residents are working together to support their railway.

Especially seeing the students cleaning and painting the stations, that was really moving.

But I'm wondering with the declining population, will it make a difference?

Well, I think it certainly makes a difference.

Because, you know this kind of move will make people involved in the problem.

And if they're not getting involved in that, then the problem will never be solved.

You know, it's their problem and they should be in frontline of the solution of the problem.

So this, I think, is very important.

Next up is Tourist Trains in Style,

where we introduce exciting tourist trains from all around Japan.

"etSETOra" is a sightseeing train operated by JR West.

The blue and white livery features a motif that depicts the sea and waves of the Seto Inland Sea

located on the southern coast of Hiroshima Prefecture where the train runs.

"etSETOra" debuted on October 2020 as part of the campaign Hiroshima Prefecture and JR West

created to attract tourists to the coast of the Seto Inland Sea.

The Setouchi region consists of the Seto Inland Sea and its coastline,

which stretches between the Chugoku region and Shikoku on the opposite coast.

The name "etSETOra" is a combination of "et (etto)," a word in the Hiroshima dialect that means "a lot," and "SETO."

It's hoped that passengers "feel" the many charms of the Setouchi region while onboard.

It takes 3 hours to travel the 105 km from Hiroshima Station along the coast to Onomichi Station,

where the beautiful Seto Inland Sea can be seen.

The morning outbound trip departs from Hiroshima.

The afternoon return trip departs from Onomichi.

The two-car train, which can carry up to 40 passengers, is reservation only.

The seats are available in a variety of arrangements,

including box seats for two or four persons, and counter seats facing the sea.

The attendants and conductors make announcements,

providing information about different spots along the line.

If you look out the right side
you will see the oyster rafts.

Hiroshima is the largest producer
of oysters in Japan.

Enjoy the scenery of the islands and the oyster rafts
on the Seto Inland Sea.

The train slows down on sections that run by the sea,

occasionally stopping at view spots along the way.

The round windows resemble the windows of the cruise ships that sail on the Seto Inland Sea.

Passengers feel as if they are running on the sea.

And if you make reservations in advance,

you can enjoy sweets made by confectioners and pâtissiers in Hiroshima Prefecture on the outbound journey.

In addition, on the return trip from Onomichi,

this bar counter sells a variety of drinks and snacks unique to Hiroshima.

This is an original cocktail made with gin and citrus jam produced along the line.

On the return trip, you can also reserve and purchase sweets

such as chocolates that go well with the alcoholic beverages,

as well as strawberry and lemon flavored petite tarts.

"etSETOra" is a train that allows passengers to enjoy a variety of the Setouchi region's charms.

It operates one round trip per day, mainly on Fridays through Mondays, and holidays.

"etSETOra," that's some beautiful play on words in the branding right there,

but what is also beautiful is the view,

that really nice looking bar counter and then, the sweets - they look delicious.

And one interesting feature of this "etSETOra" train is that passengers

can hop on and hop off at any pair of the stations that the train is calling at.

Which means that passengers can enjoy more freedom on the train.

That freedom is going to come in handy because there are so many historical spots along the line.

So that's going to make for a wonderful journey.