Japan sees record train users during New Year holidays
The number of people taking shinkansen bullet trains and express trains in Japan during the 10-day year-end and New Year period rose to 13.71 million, with the daily average marking a record high since comparable data became available in 1991, according to train operators Kyodo reports.
The tally between Dec. 26 and Jan. 4 marked a 5 percent increase from the previous period as strong travel demand during the longer New Year holidays this year and additional train services helped lift the numbers, the six Japan Railway companies said.
The Tokaido Shinkansen Line, connecting Tokyo and Osaka, saw 4.42 million passengers, up 7 percent. Some 516,000 passengers used the line on the last day, marking a record single-day ridership.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, which runs between Tokyo and Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture, also saw strong growth of up to 9 percent.
Many other shinkansen lines also saw solid increases, with Joetsu covering Niigata Prefecture rising 6 percent, and Sanyo between Osaka and Fukuoka up 5 percent. Among the few lines that logged decreases, the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line saw a 6 percent drop, according to the train operators.
The peak days were Dec. 27 for outbound travel from Tokyo and Jan. 4 for travel toward Tokyo.
Air travelers during the same period also grew, with the number of people taking domestic flights rising 1 percent to 3.48 million and those taking international flights surging 10 percent to 720,000, according to airlines.
All Nippon Airways handled 1.5 million domestic flight passengers and 280,000 international flight passengers, and Japan Airlines had 1.1 million and 220,000, respectively, they said.
Earlier, it was reported that Milan issued the New Year’s Eve rules and bans on drinks and fireworks.
