Nagoya Railroad announced on the 3rd that it will discontinue the 7.4-kilometer section of the Hiromi Line between Shinkani and Mitake on April 1, 2029. Citing declining ridership and aging facilities, the company has signed an operation agreement with the cities of Kani and the towns of Mitake and Yaotsu along the line to continue service until the end of fiscal 2028, and will submit a discontinuation notice to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on the 4th. The local governments have been providing 100 million yen in annual operational support since fiscal 2010, and since last August the three municipalities have been discussing continuation under a deemed vertical separation model in which they would bear infrastructure and maintenance costs. However, with an estimated annual financial burden exceeding 300 million yen, they concluded that continuation would be difficult. The three municipalities are now urgently exploring alternative transportation options.
Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd.Declining ridership leads to discontinuation of a rail section, reducing service and revenue.