Comparison of Railway Operation between Japan and EU Countries

Explore the fundamental differences between railway operations in Japan and European Union countries through this guest lecture by Dr. Fumio Kurosaki, a railway management specialist with 31 years of industry experience. Learn about Japan's unique railway system, which emerged from the 1987 privatization of state-owned railways into six regional passenger companies (JRs), alongside numerous profitable private railways operating without subsidies in high-density urban markets. Discover how Japanese railways achieve profitability through efficient operations and innovative through-train services across multiple company networks, while facing future challenges from declining population trends. Compare this model with European railway operations, which function in lower population density markets and rely heavily on public subsidies and EU regulatory frameworks to maintain service in unprofitable transport corridors. Examine the stark contrasts between these two approaches to railway management, including funding mechanisms, operational strategies, and policy frameworks. Gain insights into how recent EU rail regulations, while unsuitable for Japan's market conditions, offer valuable lessons in public sector support for transportation infrastructure that Japan could adapt for its evolving demographic challenges.