Let's take a look at ridership along a very rural third sector railway: the Aizu Railwaypic.twitter.com/FwvER3LrUW
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Along w the Yagan Railway and Tobu Railway, it forms a link between Tokyo and Aizuwakamatsu. As far as I can tell, most riders are tourists.pic.twitter.com/hmGnhoCSAp
Heading towards Tokyo from Aizu, the line starts at Nishi Wakamatsu Station, shared with JR East. 205 riders per day here (and 644 on JR)pic.twitter.com/N6j6enjYNP
And we're off! The first few stops are near-deserted: Minami Wakamatsu (16/day), Monden (3/day), Amaya (3/day)pic.twitter.com/3BIWdJKLpK
Next is Ashinomaki Onsen, with 85 riders per day and an honorary stationmaster perplexingly called "Bus" (ばす = Basu)
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We continue down the line through two more minor stops: Okawa Dam Koen (3/day) and Ashinomakionsen Minami (5/day)pic.twitter.com/pFT2bkQkzh
Next is one of the loveliest stations in Japan: Yunokami Onsen, with 90 riders per day. Yes, it has an open firepit (and manga library?)pic.twitter.com/6AmhMJkHxr
The next two have modest ridership for the area: Tonohetsuri (33/day) and Yagoshima (36/day)pic.twitter.com/QZAp09NM8O
Moving along through Aizu Shimogo (98/day), Furusato Koen (14/day), Yoson Koen (11/day), and Aizu Nagano (5/day)...pic.twitter.com/0bnHKkhnRF
Next is Tajima Koko Mae (lit "in front of Tajima High School"), with 93/day, then Aizu Tajima (260/day), the line's most important stationpic.twitter.com/0BRbrsKwR4
Aizu Tajima is the terminal for special Tobu Railway rapid trains providing direct access all the way to Tokyo, over 3 hours away!pic.twitter.com/RrISMk3ntF
Only a few left: Naka Arai (11/day), Aizu Arakai (38/day), Aizu Sanson Dojo (8/day), Nanatsugatake Tozanguchi (8/day)...pic.twitter.com/TUlNcqBxU5
...and we reach Aizukogen Ozeguchi! The line continues south as the Yagan Railway, which shares the station: 36/day & 224/day respectively.pic.twitter.com/tw0BRMBMBn
So, total daily traffic on this line is a paltry 1,061 riders. Over 35.7 miles of line, that's just shy of 30 riders per mile!
That's below 1/10 the rider density of Boston's Commuter Rail network...and yet, the stations look a lot nicer, no?
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Speaking of rider density--a small addendum for today's thread, rider density on each Boston CR line
In order: Needham Line (775/mile) Lowell Line (479/mile) Franklin Line (462/mile) Providence/Stoughton Line (395/mile)
Worcester Line (370/mi) Newburyport/Rockport Line (307/mi) Haverhill Line (268/mi) Kingston/Plymouth Line (262/mi) Middleboro Line (200/mi)
Greenbush Line (193/mi)
Fitchburg Line (177/mi)
Fairmount Line (115/mi)
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