ＪＲ北海道、１８駅廃止　ダイヤ改正で来春、過去最多

　ＪＲ北海道は９日、新型コロナウイルス感染拡大による利用客の減少を受け、２０２１年春のダイヤ改正で宗谷線など４路線で計１８の無人駅を廃止すると発表した。ダイヤ改正に伴う駅の廃止数としては、１９８７年の同社発足以降で最多。これによりＪＲ北海道管内の駅数は３７２となる。
　ダイヤ改正ではこのほか、特急列車１４本の運行見直しも行う。札幌～函館間の特急「北斗」で上下線の最終便２本の運転を取りやめるほか、旭川～網走、稚内間などを走る特急計８本は閑散期の平日に一部運休する。札幌～旭川間の特急は４本を土日や祝日、年末年始、お盆のみの運転とする。普通列車も２０本の運転を取りやめる。
　これら駅の廃止や減便などにより、年間約６億２０００万円の経費節減を見込む。記者会見した島田修社長は「新型コロナで収入は大きく減少し、事業継続のため固定費削減は避けられない」と話した。（2020/12/09-19:11）

Hokkaido Railway Co., or JR Hokkaido, said Wednesday that it will scrap 18 of its unmanned train stations due to decreases in users amid the novel coronavirus epidemic.
   The stations to be closed down in line with the spring 2021 revision of the railway operator's timetable are on four lines, including the Soya Main Line, according to the company, which serves the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido.
   The number of JR Hokkaido stations to be scrapped through a timetable revision is the largest since the company was born out of the breakup and privatization of the Japanese National Railways in April 1987, which also created other Japan Railways, or JR, Group firms. The upcoming move will reduce the number of stations in JR Hokkaido's service area to 372.
   JR Hokkaido will also review the operations of 14 limited express trains next spring. For the Hokuto, which links Sapporo and Hakodate stations, the last train of the day in each direction will be scrapped, while some of the eight trains connecting Asahikawa Station with stations including Abashiri and Wakkanai will be suspended on off-season weekdays. The operations of four trains between Sapporo and Asahikawa will be limited to weekends, public holidays, the year-end and New Year period and the "bon" summer holiday season in August.
   A total of 20 local service trains will also be scrapped. Annual cost savings of some 620 million yen are expected from all these changes, according to JR Hokkaido. "As our revenue has dropped significantly due to the novel coronavirus, we must cut fixed costs in order to continue operations," JR Hokkaido President Osamu Shimada said at a press conference.