On August 26, JR Shikoku announced that it has applied to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for approval to change the upper limit of fares starting in spring 2023. As a result, the starting fare for adults will increase from the current 170 yen to 190 yen.
The reasons for the application include: a decrease in railroad transportation revenues due to Shikoku’s declining birthrate, aging population, and changing economic conditions, which have long been a concern; the aging of facilities and the rising cost of raw materials and repairs due to social conditions; and the expectation of a further gradual decline in transportation revenues as new lifestyles such as teleworking take root. In addition, the company expects a further gradual decline in transportation revenues as new lifestyles such as teleworking take hold. The fare revision will be the first fare increase in about 27 years, since 1996.
The overall revision rate (increase in average fare paid) was 12.82%. This includes 12.51% for regular fares, 28.14% for commuter passes, 22.43% for school passes, and 5.13% for limited express and other fares on conventional lines.
For regular fares, a new “kilometer section-based fare” will be introduced for fares up to 100 km, and the fare will be set at a level that takes other modes of transportation into consideration. In addition, from 101km, which is calculated by multiplying the number of kilometers by the fare rate as in the current system, the fare rate applicable up to 200km will be raised by 3 yen. The fare rate applicable to routes of 201 km or more will remain unchanged.
On the other hand, the discount rate for commuter pass fares was revised in addition to the revision of regular fares. For commuter passes, the one-month discount rate was revised from the current average of 52.9% to 48.0%, and the six-month discount rate was revised from the current average of 58.8% to 53.2%. For commuter passes, the company applied for a revision of the one-month discount rate for university students from the current average of 74.7% to 73.2%.
In addition, the company plans to report revisions to express fares on some segments.
The company will continue to improve its management to secure stable railroad transportation revenues. In addition, the company plans to further improve its services to users by introducing a new ticketing system using a smartphone app, developing and introducing new local diesel trains, expanding the introduction of digital signage, renewing limited express trains, and improving facilities.
© Source travel watch