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With the opening of the Seikan Tunnel and the Seto-ohashi Bridbe, Japan's four main island were joined together. This linkage has brought the following benefits: firstly, transport time has been reduced; secondly, transfers and transshipments have been eliminated for passengers and freight, respectively, and connection-waiting time has been reduced; thirdly, stable transport activity, undisturbed by bad weather, has become possible; and fourthly, transport capacity can be increased. Thus, the flow of people and freight has become active between Honshu and Hokkaido, and Honshu and Shikoku.
The opening of the Seikan Tunnel helped increase the number of not only
passengers using JR trains but also those using air lines and ferry services.
(Table 2)
As for its effect on freight movements, JR container transport enjoyed a
steady increase; so did other transport facilities in general against a backdrop
of business expansion; however, some ferry routes saw a slight decline.
Following the opening of the Seto-ohashi Bridge, the JR (Seto-ohashi Line)
carried passengers more than three times the number of those who used the Uko
ferry service in 1987. However, the rate of automobiles crossing the bridge
was only 52% of the pre-opening estimate. As for other traffic services, airlines
saw a sharp decline in the Osaka-Shikoku route; so did some of the ferry and
passenger boat services. Others saw either a slight decline or a slight increase.
(Table 3)
As for freight movements, JR container transport recorded a sharp increase,
while airlines saw an increase as in previous years. The number of trucks crossing
the Seto-ohashi is increasing month after month.
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