The 3ｒd JTTRI Global Seminar

Comparison of Railways in Japan and Europe
January 2024
Kiyohito Utsunomiya
Kansai UniversityModal split (nation-wide)
UK

1089

Austria

1387

Germany8Japan85
290
Railway

120

666

40

Automobile606080

Airplane

100
Ship

Note: Data are 2018 except for Japan, which is 2009.
Source：JTTRI,Suujidemiru Tetsudo
2Railway passengers in Japan
2008=100
115.0

110.0

passenger kilometer
population

105.0

100.0

95.0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
FY

Source：JTTRI, Suujidemiru Tetsudo
Statistics Bureau of Japan3

Features of Japanese railways
Railway networks in Japan are composed of not only JR groups,
former JNR, but also other private companies, which wereestablished in specific areas. Especially, “major 16 privatecompanies” have dense networks in metropolitan areas.

4Hankyu Railway (Osaka-Kyoto/Kobe)

TOD Business Model
Opening of Japan’s first railway (Shinbashi-Yokohama)
1906–07 Nationalization of 17 private railways
1907
Foundation of Minoo-Arima Electric Company (present-day HankyuCorp.)
Ichizo Kobayashi opened the first line in the outskirts of Osaka city.
1872

Transport business

Retail business

Increasing passengers

Leisure business, etc.

Real estatebusiness
Internalisation of external
economic effects
Source: Hankyu-Hanshin Holdings Annual Report 2011

5Chronology in Japan (1970～）
million2000=100

140140120

13010012080

110

60100
Population 65～ (right)
Population ～64 (right)
Urban Land Price Index (left)
GDP (left)

40200908070

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
Mil.

60.0

Passenger cars

40.0
20.00.01970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
Source: Statistical Bureau of Japan, Japan Real Estate Institute, Automobile Inspection & Registration Information Association 6

Modal split (regional city, weekday)
Japan 22

Austria50

170%
Railway*Motorcycle

123920%Bus40%

Bicycle21160%
Car（Driver*Walk1513162080%
100%
Car（Passenger）

Note: “Railway” in Austria stands fo public transportation including “Bus.”
Regional city in Japan is the average of “Chiho chushin toshi (regional center city; population is less than
400 thou. ).
Regional city in Austria is the average of cities, whose population is more than 100 thou. excluding Vienna.
Source: MLIT, Nationwide person trip survey, 2015
BMK, Österreich unterwegs 2013/2014
7Railway passengers in Japan and European coutries
2008=100140.0
135.0

130.0
125.0120.0

Japan
GermanyAustria
UK115.0
110.0
105.0
100.095.0

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Year/Fiscal Year
、Source: JTTRI, Suujidemiru Tetsudo
Eurostat https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/explore/all/transp?lang=en&s
ubtheme=rail.rail_pa&display=list&sort=category
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Railways in regional cities in Japan in the past decades
Most local railways in regional areas do not make profits
due to motorization and decline of population.
◼ Although local governments in some regional areas
subsidize local public transportation deficits, to a certain
extent, they tend to force railway companies to reduce
their costs rather than to support their operations.
◼ As a result, railway services not only in the countryside
but also in regional cities have worsened and passengers
have decreased further. Labour shortage arising fromlower wages also damages railway services.
◼

⇒ Vicious circle
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2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

Closed railway lines in Japan after 2000km

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

2000
FY

Source: MLIT
10Impact of COVID-19 on local public
transportation businessResults of the business survey on local public transportation companies in April 2022

Possible response to thecurrent situation

Timing of the recoveryof the current loss

2%

10%
27%
21%

7%
7%
26%

Within 5 years
Around 5 years
10 years
15 years
20 years
Never

14%

Close transportion business
Close lines

38%

Reduce services

32%
14%

Consult governments how tomaintain services
Status quo

N-107

Source: The Research Institute for Local Public Transport, Dai 4 Kai Koukyo
Kotsu Keiei Jittai tyousa no Kekka Houkokusho, 2022
11PSO: Public Service Obligation
Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007
Article 2 (e)‘public service obligation’ means a requirement defined or determinedby a competent authority in order to ensure public passenger transport
services in the general interest that an operator, if it were considering its
own commercial interests, would not assume or would not assume tothe same extent or under the same conditions without reward;
Preamble (4)At the present time, many inland passenger transport services which
are required in the general economic interest cannot be operated on acommercial basis. The competent authorities of the Member States
must be able to act to ensure that such services are provided.
Source: Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23
October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing
Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1191/69 and 1107/70
12

…

Source: https://www.klimaticket.at/en/
13

…

Souce: UK government,
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution

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Revitalization Plan for Johana & Himi Lines in Toyama Prefecture

New vehicles

Local governments should invest in theimprovement of railway lines because
providing railway service is “public service.”
Improvement for high frequency services andintroduction of regular timetable

The operator will be changed
Introduction of IC card systemfrom JR West to AinokazeGo-through service between Johana and Himi
Toyama Railway, whose share is
Improvement of existing systems
held by local governments bySource:
Kitanippon Newspaper 2 July 2022
90%, in aroundfive years.
Souce: Toyam prefecture, https://www.pref.toyama.jp/documents/37871/10shiryo1.pdf

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