Politics · Japan · 19 hrs ago
Kamakura postpones public ride-share trial to cover major bus cuts
Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, postponed a planned public ride-share trial for fiscal 2026.
The trial was planned for areas around JR Ofuna Station and in the Nishikamakura district to improve transport access where services are limited.
The city says it will instead focus on replacement transport because Keikyu Bus will sharply cut service between Kamakura Station and Kamakurayama from December 1.
The route is scheduled to fall from 38 weekday trips to eight, while weekend and holiday trips will drop from 28 to an unspecified reduced level.
Until Enoden Bus is expected to take over the route in early March 2027, the city plans to run temporary minibuses.
These are planned to make 16 trips on weekdays and 24 on weekends and holidays, at an estimated cost of about 20 million yen.
The ride-share trial had been budgeted at about 45.46 million yen, with the city also planning to use a national subsidy.
Kamakura will not carry out its planned public ride-share trial in fiscal 2026.
The city said it will focus on temporary replacement transport because Keikyu Bus will sharply reduce service on the Kamakura Station–Kamakurayama route.
The trial had been planned from November around JR Ofuna Station and in the Nishi-Kamakura area.
From December 1, the route will fall from 38 weekday bus services to eight.
The city plans to run microbuses until Enoden Bus takes over the route, with the handover expected from early March 2027.
- Who
- Kamakura City.
- What
- The city postponed its planned public ride-share trial and will focus on temporary replacement transport.
- When
- The trial had been planned for November 2026; the city postponed it for fiscal 2026.
- Where
- Around JR Ofuna Station and in the Nishi-Kamakura area; replacement services will cover the Kamakura Station–Kamakurayama route.
- Why
- Keikyu Bus will sharply reduce service on the Kamakura Station–Kamakurayama route, so the city will prioritize alternative transport.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The public ride-share trial had been scheduled to begin around JR Ofuna Station and in Nishi-Kamakura.
Kamakura City announced it would not carry out the trial during the fiscal year.
Keikyu Bus is due to reduce the Kamakura Station–Kamakurayama route from 38 weekday services to eight.
The city plans to run microbuses as temporary replacement transport.
Enoden Bus is expected to take over the route, subject to coordination with the city.
- Trial budget
- About 45.46 million yen
- Route before cuts
- 38 weekday services and 28 services on weekends and public holidays
- Route from December 1
- Eight weekday services
- Planned temporary service
- 16 microbus services on weekdays and 24 on weekends and public holidays
- Temporary service budget
- About 20 million yen