End of the Line: Meitetsu Hiromi Line Segment to Close as Municipalities Abandon Rail Preservation due to High Costs
A section of the Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) Hiromi Line between Shin-Kani and Mitake stations in Gifu Prefecture is set to be discontinued. Local municipalities have concluded discussions on preserving the segment, and Meitetsu has confirmed it will proceed toward closure. Moving forward, the focus will shift to transitioning to alternative transportation, such as local buses. High Costs Lead to Abandoning the 'Vertical Separation' Model The decision to end rail service was reached by the three municipalities along the line: Mitake Town, Kani City, and Yaotsu Town. The local governments had been exploring a "de-facto vertical separation" framework to keep the line running. Under this model, Meitetsu would handle train operations while the municipalities would cover the costs of maintaining track infrastructure and carriages. However, local authorities ultimately abandoned the plan. According to announcements from Mitake Town and other partners, the model would have im...