Fukushima Transportation
Encyclopedia
is a rail and bus
transportation company headquartered in Fukushima City
, Fukushima Prefecture
, Japan
.
It operates the Iizaka Line rail line and an extensive bus network, which primarily serves the Nakadōri
and northern section of the Hamadōri
regions of Fukushima Prefecture.
and Date
, and in 1908 Shintatsu Tramway, along with various other regional railways, were brought together under the newly formed . Shintatsu Tramway became the Fukushima branch of the newly formed company.
Over the next nine years, routes connecting Hobara
, Yanagawa
, and Kakeda were completed.
In 1917 Shintatsu Tramway reformed as a new entity, and in January of the following year the new Shintatsu Tramway took control of the Fukushima branch of the Dainippon Tramway. The rail network was then further expanded to include Kōri
and Matsukawa.
In 1926 the company's name was changed to , and in 1927 it merged with . As a result of the merge, the tracks that led directly from Fukushima Station to Iizaka were renamed to Iizaka West Line and the track that led from Fukushima Station to Iizaka via an eastern loop of Fukushima City was renamed to Iizaka East Line.
The company rapidly expanded in the 1970s, becoming one of the three pillars of the conglomerate. In addition to the other two pillars, Radio Fukushima and The Fukkushima Minpo newspaper, the group had its hands in various other ventures, such as real estate, transport, breweries, the amusement park, and a ranch.
, thus having its former subsidiary assume the company's debt. Following the merger, was spun off, with its name being changed to soon after.
Entering the 2000s, passenger levels and profits fell due to a decreasing population and the resulting decreasing demand, in addition to the increased competition due to relaxation of regulations in the bus industry and the resulting increased competition. Furthermore, there was an unexpectedly high amount of employees taking early retirement and requesting retirement payments, all of which led to Fukushima Transportation having increasingly stretched finances.
Entering into 2008, the company began considerations into filing for bankruptcy protection, however this was put off following a 160 million yen subsidy from the national and prefectural governments. April 11, 2008 the Tokyo District Court
approved a petition for corporate reorganization under the Japanese Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
The following year restructuring plans were agreed upon with , and Fukushima Transportation became a fully owned subsidiary of , a holding company
owned by Industrial Growth Platform.
, due to gasoline
shortages and JR East
being forced to cancel many of its rail services in the Tōhoku region
, intercity travel became extremely difficult. In response to the need to restore intercity transportation to affected areas, Fukushima Transportation put special bus routes into effect throughout both Fukushima Prefecture and Tōhoku.
Fukushima Transportation's rail service, the Iizaka Line, resumed service on March 13, two days after the earthquake.
which links the center of the city of Fukushima
to Iizaka
in the northern part of the city. Since 1991, the Iizaka Line has run former Tokyu 7000 series cars.
into all of Naka-dōri
and the northern area of Hama-dōri
, however in the 1980s passenger numbers began to fall, leading many of the bus lines into unprofitability. As a result, unprofitable lines were either closed, shortened, or reorganized. Some routes were subsidized by local governments
under section 21 of the 1951 Road Transportation Act.
and Nishigō
have contracted out various bus operations to Fukushima Transportation.
routes that connect the cities of Fukushima
, Kōriyama
, Iwaki
and Aizuwakamtsu
within Fukushima Prefecture. Furthermore, it runs lines that connect Fukushima and Kōriyama to Koshigaya
, Sendai, Tokyo
, Narita
, Niigata
, Morioka, Kyoto
and Osaka
.
. However, in 2009, it purchased new Isuzu
and Hino Motors
vehicles and used Nissan Diesel vehicles, thus ending the longstanding practice of relying only on Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
transportation company headquartered in Fukushima City
Fukushima, Fukushima
is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...
, Fukushima Prefecture
Fukushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
It operates the Iizaka Line rail line and an extensive bus network, which primarily serves the Nakadōri
Nakadori
is a region comprising the middle third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal cities of the area are the prefectural capital Fukushima and Kōriyama.-Famous people:...
and northern section of the Hamadōri
Hamadori
is an area comprising the easternmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.The principal city of the area is Iwaki.-History:From the Heian period to the Tensho period, Hamadori was divided by the Iwaki clan and the Soma clan . After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Iwaki clan was banished to...
regions of Fukushima Prefecture.
Founding and initial growth
Fukushima Transportation can trace its roots back to the founding of on August 1, 1907. The company opened up lines connecting Fukushima to IizakaIizaka, Fukushima
was a town located in Date District, Fukushima, Japan. The town is situated in the north part of Fukushima City.As of April 1, 2006, the town has an estimated population of 23,314. Iizaka is best known for its many onsen, most notably Sabakoyu Onsen, a public bath located downtown and reminiscent...
and Date
Date, Fukushima
is a city located in northern Fukushima, Japan.As of May 2011, the town has an estimated population of 65,409 and the total area is 265 km².There were nine towns in Date District, Fukushima. On January 1, 2006, five towns in Date District merged to form the city of Date. Merged towns were Hobara,...
, and in 1908 Shintatsu Tramway, along with various other regional railways, were brought together under the newly formed . Shintatsu Tramway became the Fukushima branch of the newly formed company.
Over the next nine years, routes connecting Hobara
Hobara, Fukushima
was a town located in Date District, Fukushima, Japan. It was a part of the Kenpoku Region.On January 1, 2006, Hobara was merged with the towns of Date, Ryōzen, Tsukidate and Yanagawa and became Date City....
, Yanagawa
Yanagawa, Fukushima
was a castle town located in Date District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 20,626 and a density of 248.72 persons per km². The total area is 82.93 km²....
, and Kakeda were completed.
In 1917 Shintatsu Tramway reformed as a new entity, and in January of the following year the new Shintatsu Tramway took control of the Fukushima branch of the Dainippon Tramway. The rail network was then further expanded to include Kōri
Kori, Fukushima
is a town located in Date District, Fukushima, Japan. It is also known as Koori-machi.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 13,507 and a density of 314.34 persons per km². The total area is 42.97 km²....
and Matsukawa.
In 1926 the company's name was changed to , and in 1927 it merged with . As a result of the merge, the tracks that led directly from Fukushima Station to Iizaka were renamed to Iizaka West Line and the track that led from Fukushima Station to Iizaka via an eastern loop of Fukushima City was renamed to Iizaka East Line.
Diversification from rail
Over the next few decades Fukushima Electric Railway added and expanded multiple bus routes throughout the area. As a result of the company's increasing foray into non-rail transportation, in 1962 the company was renamed to . In 1967 a section of the Iizaka East Line was shut down, and in 1971 the entirety of the Iizaka East Line was shut down, leaving the Iizaka West Line (now called the Iizaka Line) Fukushima Transportation's only remaining rail line in operation.The company rapidly expanded in the 1970s, becoming one of the three pillars of the conglomerate. In addition to the other two pillars, Radio Fukushima and The Fukkushima Minpo newspaper, the group had its hands in various other ventures, such as real estate, transport, breweries, the amusement park, and a ranch.
Financial troubles and acquisition
In the 1980s the company continued to diversify, taking on large amounts of debt. Weighted down by an increase in unprofitable ventures, in 1986 the company merged with its subsidiarySubsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
, thus having its former subsidiary assume the company's debt. Following the merger, was spun off, with its name being changed to soon after.
Entering the 2000s, passenger levels and profits fell due to a decreasing population and the resulting decreasing demand, in addition to the increased competition due to relaxation of regulations in the bus industry and the resulting increased competition. Furthermore, there was an unexpectedly high amount of employees taking early retirement and requesting retirement payments, all of which led to Fukushima Transportation having increasingly stretched finances.
Entering into 2008, the company began considerations into filing for bankruptcy protection, however this was put off following a 160 million yen subsidy from the national and prefectural governments. April 11, 2008 the Tokyo District Court
Tokyo District Court
is a district court located at 1-1-4 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. -References:...
approved a petition for corporate reorganization under the Japanese Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
The following year restructuring plans were agreed upon with , and Fukushima Transportation became a fully owned subsidiary of , a holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
owned by Industrial Growth Platform.
2011 earthquake and tsunami
In the wake of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
, due to gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
shortages and JR East
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
being forced to cancel many of its rail services in the Tōhoku region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
, intercity travel became extremely difficult. In response to the need to restore intercity transportation to affected areas, Fukushima Transportation put special bus routes into effect throughout both Fukushima Prefecture and Tōhoku.
Fukushima Transportation's rail service, the Iizaka Line, resumed service on March 13, two days after the earthquake.
Current
Fukushima Transportation currently operates the Iizaka Line, a 9.2 km rail lineRail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
which links the center of the city of Fukushima
Fukushima Station (Fukushima)
is a railway station located in the city of Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan.-Lines:*JR East**Tōhoku Shinkansen**Yamagata Shinkansen**Tōhoku Main Line**Ōu Main Line*AbukumaExpress** Abukuma Express Line*Fukushima Transportation** Iizaka Line-Layout:...
to Iizaka
Iizaka Onsen Station
is a train station located in the town of Iizaka in Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan.It is the final station on Fukushima Transportation's Iizaka Line.-Station layout:Iizaka-Onsen is a manned two-platform single-track above-ground station...
in the northern part of the city. Since 1991, the Iizaka Line has run former Tokyu 7000 series cars.
Past
Fukushima Transportation operated the Iizaka East Line until the line's closure on April 12, 1971Company-owned routes
In the 1960s and 1970s Fukushima Transportation greatly expanded its local bus systemTransit bus
A transit bus , also known as a commuter bus, city bus, or public bus, is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
into all of Naka-dōri
Nakadori
is a region comprising the middle third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal cities of the area are the prefectural capital Fukushima and Kōriyama.-Famous people:...
and the northern area of Hama-dōri
Hamadori
is an area comprising the easternmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.The principal city of the area is Iwaki.-History:From the Heian period to the Tensho period, Hamadori was divided by the Iwaki clan and the Soma clan . After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Iwaki clan was banished to...
, however in the 1980s passenger numbers began to fall, leading many of the bus lines into unprofitability. As a result, unprofitable lines were either closed, shortened, or reorganized. Some routes were subsidized by local governments
Municipalities of Japan
Japan has three levels of government: national, prefectural, and municipal. The nation is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture consists of numerous municipalities. There are four types of municipalities in Japan: cities, towns, villages and special wards...
under section 21 of the 1951 Road Transportation Act.
Contracted routes
The municipalities of MiharuMiharu, Fukushima
is a town located in Tamura District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 19,454 and a population density of 267.37 persons per km². The total area is 72.76 km².-Sister city program:...
and Nishigō
Nishigo, Fukushima
is a village located in Nishishirakawa District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 19,340 and a density of 100.56 persons per km². The total area is 192.32 km²....
have contracted out various bus operations to Fukushima Transportation.
Intercity buses
Fukushima Transportation operates intercity busIntercity bus
An intercity bus is a bus that carries passengers significant distances between different cities, towns, or other populated areas. Unlike a municipal bus, which has frequent stops throughout a city or town, an intercity bus generally has a single stop at a centralized location within the city, and...
routes that connect the cities of Fukushima
Fukushima, Fukushima
is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...
, Kōriyama
Koriyama, Fukushima
is a city in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2011, the city had an estimated population of 336,328. The total area is 757 km²....
, Iwaki
Iwaki, Fukushima
is a city located in the southern part of the Hamadōri coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.A designated "core city", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan...
and Aizuwakamtsu
Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima
is a city located in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.As of May 2011, the city has an estimated population of 125,341. The total area is 383.03 km².-History:...
within Fukushima Prefecture. Furthermore, it runs lines that connect Fukushima and Kōriyama to Koshigaya
Koshigaya, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 325,074 and a population density of 5,390 persons per km². The total area is 60.31 km²....
, Sendai, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Narita
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
, Niigata
Niigata
is a name of a place of Japan and the Chubu region.Niigata may refer to:* Niigata - a city in Japan and the capital of Niigata Prefecture* Niigata Prefecture - prefecture in Japan* Albirex Niigata - the city's professional football club...
, Morioka, Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
.
Bus fleet
Fukushima Transportation formerly owned and operated buses solely made by the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus CorporationMitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation
The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation is a German-owned, Japan-based manufacturer of trucks and buses. It is headquartered in Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan. This company is one of the World's largest truck manufacturers...
. However, in 2009, it purchased new Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
and Hino Motors
Hino Motors
-External links:Global* * * Overseas offices****.*.***.*.* - Philippines**...
vehicles and used Nissan Diesel vehicles, thus ending the longstanding practice of relying only on Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles.
See also
- Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka Line
- List of bus operating companies in Japan (east)
- List of railway companies in Japan