Amendment Adds Airport Rail Interest Subsidies to Agency Duties
Overview
To implement the interest subsidy program established to accelerate the development and enhancement of airport access railways, the Cabinet approved a Cabinet Order partially amending the Enforcement Order of the Act on the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency. A new provision, “Interest Subsidies for Airport Access Railway Development Costs,” will be added to Article 4 of the Enforcement Order, clarifying that the Agency may administer these subsidies. The promulgation and enforcement date is November 5, 2026.
Key points
- The Cabinet approved the amending Cabinet Order.
- The amendment adds Interest Subsidies for Airport Access Railway Development Costs to Article 4 of the Enforcement Order.
- The promulgation and enforcement date is November 5, 2026.
Overview
In fiscal year 2026, an interest subsidy program was established to accelerate the development and enhancement of airport access railways. Under the program, the Agency receives payments from the national government that do not qualify as subsidies, then uses them as funding to provide grants to certain railway operators.
Details
The Act on the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (Act No. 180 of 2002) sets out the Agency’s name, purpose, scope of operations, and other matters. Under Article 13, paragraph 2, item 1 of the Act, the Agency may provide subsidies and similar payments to railway operators that build railway facilities and related infrastructure for urban railways. These payments include subsidies as well as other payments specified by Cabinet Order for which no substantial consideration is received; the details are set out in Article 4 of the Enforcement Order (Cabinet Order No. 293 of 2003).
The amendment adds “Interest Subsidies for Airport Access Railway Development Costs” to Article 4 of the Enforcement Order. This clarifies that administering these subsidies is part of the Agency’s operations.