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Members in Japan may be interested in watching tonight's episode of the business program Cambria Kyuden on TV Tokyo (10pm Thu.) The topic is Isumi Tetsudo in Chiba Prefecture, which has been successful despite being a rural third sector line.

Monday saw the delivery of the last unit of a batch of five new railcars for Isumi Railway in Chiba Pref. The train is styled in the pattern of JNR era diesel railcars. This railcar is scheduled to begin revenue service by the summer holiday season. http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH6Q427NH6QUDCB00B.html

For forumers in Japan, of possible interest is tomorrow night's broadcast of the business documentary show "Gaia no yoake", on TV Tokyo from 10pm. The subjects will be an innovative bus company taking over a bankrupt bus service, and a profile of the Isumi Railway in Chiba Prefecture, which has managed to attract ridership and keep itself from getting shut down. These programs, being intended for "serious" audiences (TV Tokyo is owned by business newspaper Nihon Kezai Shimbun- the "WSJ of Japan"), tend to be more full of insight and substance than the variety specials typically broadcast on the bigger TV channels. Check it out. http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/gaia/

On Feb. 3 a festival was held at Kuniyoshi Station on the Isumi Rlwy in Chiba Pref. Kiha 30 62, ex-JRE Kururi Line is on display there. Some running scenes of the new diesel railcar 350 (Niigata Transys), which is similar to the 300 series but has a front cab design modeled after the kiha 20- retro that works, imo. Also some scenes of the kiha 52 and a railbus.