Will Japan Railways Lasts for 200 years? - Celebrating 150th Anniversary of Japan Railways -

Japanese version here 日本鉄道開業150周年を盛大に祝いたい。なぜなら200周年のときには何も無くなるだろう…（序）

　Japan is famous for its advanced technology, service quality, and punctuality on railways. It's first railway opened in 14th October 1872 from Shimbashi to Yokohama, and we are now celebrating 150th Anniversary of Japanese Railways nationwide. In fact, the very first railway structures are being unearthed nearby Takanawa Gateway Station, newest station in Tokyo built in 2020.

　Unfortunately, Japanese Railways are facing multiple problems and no one could imagine how Japan's railway system will look like in the next 50 years. This might be something unexpected to be heard from a country that has such advanced railway system.

　First of all, I am a foreign living in Japan for 9 years, and I have already completed 4 out of 6 regional JR lines. It is fair enough to say that I have seen more realities of Japanese trains that has never been shown in guidebooks or travelling VLOGs.

　These days, Japan keeps making some new high speed train lines (Shinkansen 新幹線), but at the same time, many main and local branch railway lines (Zairaisen 在来線) are dying out. This may be a result from continuously decreasing population in these years, but these sparks angriness and madness between domestic railfans.

　Well, let's talk about evolution of technology for a moment. We all experience the technology shift of the mobile phones in the past 20 years. Method of communications were shifted from talking to texting, and shape of the phone changes everytime you realized, but the major purpose of the mobile phone is still to communicate with someone far far away.

　In the same way, railway technologies shall change its form over time. Maglev technology may replace half of Tokyo's suburban trains in the next 50 years. Here, I should mention that in Japanese, railway is called "Tetsudo" which means roads of steel. It might feels sad if one day a contacting sound of steel wheels and steel rails was completely replaced with futuristic maglev sound, but yet railway is still be a railway.

　But in case of Japan, sadly, part of the "RAILWAY SYSTEM" may have completely gone in some regions with no replacement. Since rail operaters in Japan is not rely on government, they often excuses that they have no money for the operation. This questions me, an engineering student, what if everyone says I have no money, then who the hell has the money. Well, that's maybe the reason why I am an engineering student today.

　Or... this might be a part of industrial revolution that naturally occurs, and I just read too much negative comments from those Japanese "Tetsuota" (railfans) on Twitter? Or Japanese railfans are too agressive because they loved what the love too much? Or should I say Japanese relies too much on their railway system?

Let's celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Japan Railways, we may have nothing left to cheers for in the next 50 years... 

This post series will introduce some issues on Japan Railways, some may referred to countries economic issues. (which i'm not such a professional...)

Every comments are accepted. You're welcome.

WORKETA