Utsunomiya and Haga Rail Plan Approved
Overview
The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism approved the rail transport enhancement implementation plan submitted by Utsunomiya City, Haga Town, and Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd. The plan provides for construction from the east exit of JR Utsunomiya Station to Kyoiku Kaikan-mae in Utsunomiya City under a public ownership and private operation model with separate infrastructure and operations. The route is 4.9 kilometers long. Construction is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2026, with service scheduled to start in March 2036. The cost is 69.8 billion yen, excluding tax. Trains are scheduled every 6 minutes during morning and evening peak periods and every 10 minutes off peak. Under the approval, the project specified in the plan is deemed to have received a license under Article 3 of the Tramways Act.
Key points
- The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism approved the plan submitted by Utsunomiya City, Haga Town, and Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd.
- The route runs from the east exit of JR Utsunomiya Station to Kyoiku Kaikan-mae.
- The construction cost is 69.8 billion yen, excluding tax.
- Service is scheduled to begin in March 2036.
Overview
On October 9, 2026, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism approved the rail transport enhancement implementation plan under Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Act on Revitalization and Rehabilitation of Local Public Transportation Systems.
The plan was submitted on October 29, 2025.
Impact
Under the approval, the rail transport enhancement project specified in the plan is deemed to have received a license under Article 3 of the Tramways Act.
Details
The route runs from Miyamirai, Utsunomiya City (the east exit of JR Utsunomiya Station), to Komanyu 1-chome, Utsunomiya City (Kyoiku Kaikan-mae). It is 4.9 kilometers long and will be built under a public ownership and private operation model with separate infrastructure and operations. Construction is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2026, and service is scheduled to start in March 2036. The cost is 69.8 billion yen, excluding tax.
The operating plan provides for trains every 6 minutes (10 trains per hour) during morning and evening peak periods, and every 10 minutes (6 trains per hour) off peak.
The applicants named Utsunomiya City and Haga Town as the project entities responsible for construction, and Utsunomiya Light Rail Co., Ltd. as the operator. The company has capital of 1 billion yen, with public entities holding 51% and private entities 49%. Its board comprises 10 directors and 2 auditors. Its shareholders are Utsunomiya City (40.8%), Haga Town (10.2%), Utsunomiya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (1.0%), Haga Town Chamber of Commerce (0.2%), Tochigi Light Rail Support Holdings Association (22.8%), Kanto Automobile (11.0%), Tobu Railway (4.0%), Ashikaga Bank (5.0%), and Tochigi Bank (5.0%).