鮮魚列車、５６年の歴史に幕　利用者減で３月終了―近鉄

　近畿日本鉄道は１８日、三重県の伊勢志摩地方で取れた魚介類を大阪へ運ぶ専用列車の運行を３月１３日で終了すると発表した。トラック輸送が主流となり、利用者が減少したためで、今後は一般の急行列車に専用の１車両を連結して機能を残す。「鮮魚列車」として知られた名物列車は、１９６３年９月以来５６年余りの歴史に幕を下ろすことになる。
　鮮魚列車は、伊勢志摩地方の行商人専用の貸し切り列車。日曜祝日を除く毎朝、三重県伊勢市の宇治山田駅と大阪市天王寺区の大阪上本町駅を結ぶ。
　近鉄によると、高速道路網が整備されていなかった６３年、臭いを防ぐため一般列車とは別に、２両から４両編成の列車として運行を開始。最盛期には、１日当たり１００人以上の行商人が利用していたが、現在は１０人ほどに減少。車両の老朽化も激しいため、来月１４日のダイヤ改正で運行終了を決めた。（2020/02/18-19:15）

An iconic train dedicated to transporting fish caught off the Ise-Shima region in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, to Osaka is set to end its role next month, some 56 years after it started the service.
   Kintetsu Railway Co., the operator of the train, said Tuesday that its final service is set for March 13, the day before the company's new train timetable starts.
   The decision to cease the service reflects a sharp decrease in the number of fish dealers using the train, as trucks have now become the main means of transportation. After the end of the service, a railcar will be connected to a regular Kintetsu express train to allow some fish to continue to be sent to Osaka by rail.
   The train is operated every morning, excluding Sundays and public holidays, between Ujiyamada Station in the city of Ise in Mie and Osaka-Uehommachi Station in the city of Osaka, the capital of the western prefecture of Osaka.
   According to Kintetsu, the dedicated train, which has two to four cars, was launched in September 1963, when an expressway network was not yet established in the region. The daily number of users topped 100 at its peak, but has now fallen dramatically, to about 10.