郵便局・無人駅の一体化拡大　日本郵政とＪＲ東が連携強化

　日本郵政とＪＲ東日本は２１日、連携強化に関する協定を締結したと発表した。地域社会の中核拠点化を念頭に置いた郵便局と無人駅の一体運営を拡大したり、リレー輸送など物流の効率化で協力したりする。地域社会の衰退や人手不足など社会課題の解決を目指す。
　日本郵政の増田寛也社長は、人口減少が進む地域では「拠点の一体化が維持につながる」と強調した。ＪＲ東の深沢祐二社長も「地域との関係を維持し、発展させることが重要だ」と語った。（2024/02/21-19:55）

Japan Post Holdings Co. and East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, have signed an agreement to expand the integrated operations of post offices and unmanned train stations.
   The integrated operations will start around summer 2025 at Awakatsuyama and Ubara stations in Chiba Prefecture and Kamasusaka Station in Tochigi Prefecture, all in eastern Japan, the two companies said Wednesday.
   Under the agreement, post office staff will undertake station services, such as providing information on train schedules and fares, as well as fare adjustment.
   Also, the two companies will collaborate to improve logistic efficiency, including by conducting relay transportation and allowing users to receive Yu-Pack parcels at multifunction lockers at stations instead of at home.
   The companies hope that their collaboration will help solve social issues such as a decline of communities in rural areas and labor shortages.