The Heisei Chikuhō Railway, facing financial difficulties, has seen five out of nine municipalities along its route opt for a conversion to bus services, with decisions arising from a recent council meeting.
The Heisei Chikuhō Railway in Fukuoka Prefecture has been struggling financially, and on the 13th, the opinions of nine municipalities along its line were collected regarding its future direction. Out of three options presented, five municipalities supported the conversion to bus services, indicating a preference due to cost factors. Two municipalities showed support for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) proposal, which would allow buses to operate on the former railway lines, while two others backed a division of rail operation and infrastructure management between the railway company and local governments.
The final decision on the future of the railway will be reached through a voting process by members of a statutory council that includes representatives from the nine municipalities, the prefectural government, public transport operators, and experts. With the deadline for written voting having closed on the 13th, the proposal that secures a majority will become the primary directive. The projected deficit for the next 30 years stands at 473 billion yen under the current operating model, while alternative strategies show lower deficits, with BRT costing 148 billion yen and bus services 110 billion yen.
The city of Nokogoshi, which was the last municipality to express its preference, chose the BRT option citing advantages such as punctuality and flexibility in operations. The decision reflects a broader trend among the municipalities that supported bus services for their lower cost burden. The Heisei Chikuhō Railway, which opened in 1989 and initially thrived with over three million users, has seen a steady decline in ridership and ongoing deficits, prompting local governments to provide financial support since 2002 to stabilize its operations.
