Some 30 percent of passenger railcars used by four Japan Railway companies have been in service since at least 1987, when the firms were created through the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, Jiji Press has learned.
Some 30 percent of passenger railcars used by four Japan Railway companies have been in service since at least 1987, when the firms were created through the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, Jiji Press has learned.
The four firms are JR Hokkaido, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu. The proportion older railcars remains lower at two more financially stable JR firms – JR East and JR Tokai – which are ahead in updating their trains. According to the transport ministry, there are no rules regarding the service life of train cars.
