About Japan Private Railway Association

May 26, 2023

Greetings,

During the recent years of the COVID-19 pandemic, railway transport demand has dropped significantly. Even after the reclassification of COVID-19 as a Class V infectious disease, people's lifestyles are very different than before the pandemic. We must think about the possibility that railway transport demand may not return to the level before the pandemic.
Private regional railway companies were facing the slowdown of demand and the pandemic accelerated the slowdown. Their business conditions are increasingly difficult. In response, Japanese authorities launched and improved the financial support measures in the budget for the current fiscal year and revised relevant laws to reconstruct regional railways. We, the Association, will continue to build closer relationships with member companies and cooperate in the support measures.
The pandemic was lengthy and detrimental to railway operators. Now, the border measures have ended and COVID-19 has been downgraded under the Infectious Disease Control Law. Today, we see activity returning to many places. Domestic transport demand is growing and inbound tourists are increasing. We hope to see liveliness increase in many regions.
At the same time, the circumstances surrounding the private railway companies are still adverse, including the prices of electricity and goods that have been rising since last year and increasing difficulty of securing a workforce.
In addition, we need to address not only ongoing challenges such as the enhancement of accessibility, digital transformation and the ability to respond to large-scale natural disasters associated with climate change, but also new challenges including the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
As we address these issues, we will exit the tunnel of the pandemic and strive to rehabilitate the private railway industry and achieve greater prosperity.
As private railway companies, we realize the importance of the public mission we are expected to fulfill and will take on a number of challenges, including safer, more reliable, more comfortable and more convenient private railway services.
On the occasion of my appointment as chairman, I would like to extend our gratitude to you for your continued understanding and support of our efforts.

Kazuyuki Harada
Chairman, Japan Private Railway Association