SHIMADA, Shizuoka -- Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oigawa Railway Co. in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, has reduced its service to only three trains each morning since May 13. This is because of the drastic decrease in use by tourists and students due to factors such as the closure of schools along the line, but the company is trying to maintain transport network in the community.
The railway, known for its steam locomotives, runs about 40 kilometers along the Oigawa River between Kanaya and Senzu stations. The three current daily train services that have been carrying passengers since May 13 include one running all the way up, one running all the way down, and one that makes a shorter one-way trip. This is about a 90% reduction from the previous level of service with 30 trains per day.
The number of passengers on the steam trains dropped sharply before the suspension of the service from April 10. The suspension is to continue until May 31, according to the company. "We hope that tourists will come as we reopen," said Toyofuku Yamamoto of the company's public relations office.
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