Spring timetable revision, not so rosy aspects

[bikkuri bahn]

Among all the anticipation of the upcoming timetable revision with associated new or enhanced services, comes some less positive developments that are not particularly publicized.  Referring to JR East's timetable revision, over 2700km worth of train services, including commute services (note: not rail lines) will be cut in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area.  This is the greatest cut in services since the formation of JR in 1987. Reasons are declining population in the outer metropolitan regions, the closing of places of employment in those areas served by rail, and continuing advancement of private auto ownership.

 

Some of the cuts:

Itsukaichi Line: daytime off-peak reduction of service from a train every 20 minutes to half-hourly, due to those services running with only 10~30% passenger capacity

 

Ome Line, services starting/terminating at Tachikawa: weekday up/down services 7 trains cut, weekend/holidays 19 trains cut

 

Kawagoe Line, Komagawa to Kawagoe daytime off-peak service intervals increased from 20 min to 30min

 

Chiba Pref. limited express services: Tokyo-Sawara ltd. express service Ayame (2rt/day) axed,

Ltd. Express Sazanami cut back to Kimitsu from Tateyama and 4 up/down services cut, Ltd. Express Shiosai for Choshi, Ltd. Express Wakashio for Awakamogawa, 3 trains and 2 trains cut respectively

 

Tokaido Line: Odawara-Atami off peak service reduced from four trains/hour to three.  Ito Line train services will also be reduced in morning periods when passenger demand is low.

 

*Based on a Nihon Keizai Shimbun report (subscriber only).  Blog entry about this:

http://blogos.com/article/105376/

[miyakoji]

I wouldn't have thought this would be a problem for JR East, at least not in greater Tokyo.  Are there any lines/areas getting significantly increased service?  Too bad about Itsukaichi, Ome, and Kawagoe.  I would think that these are some of the nicest places in the region.  Everyone wants to live in the 23 wards, I guess.

[katoftw]

Happens every timetable update.  Luckily the cuts dont look too bad in this case.

[westfalen]

They are lucky they have so much in the first place, in most countries 'cuts' means loss of service altogether.