TAKAMORI: A railway line in Kumamoto Prefecture fully reopened on Saturday, more than seven years after it was heavily damaged by a powerful earthquake that struck the southwestern Japan prefecture.

Local people welcomed the full reopening of the Minami-aso Railway line. They expressed relief at greater convenience for commuting to work and school and hopes for an increase in the number of tourists.

At Takamori Station, many people lined up at the ticket office to catch the first train.

“We are glad that the railway line that we used to use in our daily lives, such as going to a hospital, has fully reopened finally,” said Akiko Asao, a 61-year-old resident of the Kumamoto village of Minamiaso, who saw the first train off.

Her 30-year-old daughter, Hiroka, said that “I want many visitors to enjoy the view from the train window so that tourism will be revived.”

At a ceremony, Daisei Kusamura, president of Minami-aso Railway Co., said that “we want to share our joy with all people who are involved in the restoration work.”

Kumamoto Governor Ikuo Kabashima said that “we will work on revitalizing local communities chiefly through railway services.”

On Saturday, Minami-aso Railway reopened a 10.6-kilometer section connecting to the Hohi line of Kyushu Railway Co.

The Minami-aso Railway line was severely damaged by the April 16, 2016, quake, with the tracks buried by landslides and bridge piers damaged.

The railway line partially resumed services in July that year. There were some 80,000 passengers in fiscal 2022, about one-third of the fiscal 2015 level, before the quake.

The company will fully resume trolley train services, a major tourist attraction, on Sunday.

JIJI Press