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(1) For railway as a social capital to answer the expectations of society
towards the 2lst century, there is a need to advance planned railway improvement
with a policy based on a middle to long term perspective.
In the report of the June 1992 the Council for Transport Policy, stated
the aims of speeding up the trunk-line railways relieving the overcrowding at
rush hour commuting on urban railways etc. as the basic direction of railway
improvement, it also stated the need for stronger incentives for the promotion
of developing railways.
(2) The Railway Development Fund was set up on October 1st 1991 to provide overall
and effective assistance for the development of railways that contribute to
the country's balanced development and maintain and increase the functions of
large cities. This fund is supported by a portion of the capital gains of the
existing Shinkansen and a subsidy from the nation's general budget. It provides
subsidies and assistance for ① grants and interest-free loans (NTT-B) for the
construction of New Shinkansen Lines, ② interest-free loans and subsidies for
making major trunk-line railways active and the development of urban railway,
③ subsidies for the construction of Yamanashi's experimental linear track, ④
subsidies for the modernization of small and medium size private railways in
the provinces etc.
(3) As for New Shinkansen Lines, in addition to the three lines over three sections
under construction now, in August 1992 work was begun on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
Isurugi to Kanazawa. Also, the "Emergency railway station development project
that is part of town-making" was set up and work was started on the Hokuriku
Shinkansen Kanazawa and Kyushu Shinkansen Nishi-Kagoshima stations.
And as for the improvement of pre-existing lines' standards, work was begun
March 1992 on making the Tazawako/Ouu line Shinkansen, through-operation and
the speeding up of the Chizu/Inbi lines.
(4) As for urban railways, every effort is being put into the planned and steady
development of the Passenger Railway Companies (JR) and major private railways,
subways, monorails, light weight automated guided transit.
(5) As regards regional railways, assistance is being given to develop the tracks
of small and medium private railways. And as for those railways converting to
busses, securing gains from the funds reserved by local government, management
effort and customer attraction is essential.
The construction of new local railway lines is also being carried out.
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