Unveiling the Value of a Local Train Line: Exploring New Possibilities for Public Transportation in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture
The Himeji Line is a local railway line that stretches from Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture to Niimi City in Okayama Prefecture. This particular line, primarily utilized by local students, has recently drawn attention after JR West disclosed that a section of the line is operating at a loss. As local railway lines throughout the country face financial challenges due to declining birth rates and an aging population, the future of the railway system becomes a topic of concern. To explore fresh possibilities for public transportation beyond the debate of whether to shut down the line or not, a discussion took place involving Tetsuhiro Mifune and Kodai Masaki from the Living Environment Department of Maniwa City in Okayama Prefecture, Kazuki Fukumoto from Fukumoto Taxi, a transportation service provider in the city, and Soma Suzuki, the representative of Spatial Pleasure.