Local Toyama railway celebrates girl, age 6, as its 100-millionth passenger
14:40 JST, May 31, 2022
TOYAMA — Ainokaze Toyama Railway celebrated its 100-millionth passenger since its opening in March 2015 by holding an event at Toyama Station on May 7 to commemorate the milestone.
The number of passengers had been steady since its opening, but declined due to the spread of the coronavirus. The number exceeded the 100 million mark about six months later than expected.
The event was attended by Toyama Gov. Hachiro Nitta and station manager Ryoichi Miyaguchi, among others.
Six-year-old Natsuki Usui was recognized as the 100-millionth passenger when she and her mother, Yuko Usui, 44, used the railway to visit Maroot mall in front of the station.
They celebrated the milestone by breaking open a decorative paper ball.
“The scenery from the Ainokaze [trains] is beautiful. I am happy to be the 100-millionth passenger,” Natsuki said.
The railroad took over management from East Japan Railway Co. of a regular railway line, which began to be operated as a conventional line parallel to the Shinkansen line when the Hokuriku Shinkansen began service in March 2015.
The number of passengers was around 41,000 per day until fiscal year 2019, but it decreased to 31,155 in fiscal 2020 amid the pandemic.
The number recovered to about 35,000 from April through October last year. According to the railroad, when the total number of passengers reached 70 million in November 2019, the firm expected the number to surpass 100 million around November 2021. However, this achievement was delayed due to the impact of the virus.
With expenses expected to increase due to aging facilities, the company plans to raise fares in the spring of 2023.
“We will continue to carefully explain the fare structure and strive to improve convenience,” Ainokaze Toyama Railway President Toshiyuki Hiyoshi said.
"Features" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Tokyo Meiji-era Station Bustles with Life Once More; Former Station Remodeled into Commercial Facility, Observation Deck to Watch Passing Trains Up Close
-
Colorful Summer Has Arrived; More than 1 Mil. Visitors Expected to Visit Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
-
Wonder of Freezing Foods; Serving Sweets, Snacks Frozen Gain Popularity in Japan
-
I Feel Resentment Toward My son’s Wife for Going Abroad on a Working Holiday
-
My Co-Worker with a Child is Often Absent, Leaves Early
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
- Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
- Japan Ministry Concerned Over Same-Sex Couple Receiving City-Issued Resident Certificates Referring to ‘Common-Law Husband’
- Japan Court OKs Sex Change without Surgery
- Pacific Islands Leaders Not Totally in Tune on China Approach as Meeting Ends in Tokyo; Positions Differ on Treated Water, Joint Drills