Welcome to the Kyu-Shirataki train station where the train only makes two stops per day – one is when a high school students leaves for school and the other after the class is over. This practice has been going on for the last few years on the island of Hokkaido, Japan.
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Japan Railways – the group responsible for operating Japan’s railway network – has ensured that this station remains open for years for a good ‘single’ reason. The number of passengers dropped drastically owing to the fact that it was located at a remote location and soon enough, the freight service stopped as well. However, students depend on the train for transit and parents requested the company to keep operating until March – end of fiscal year and when the teen graduates.
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People are appreciating the Japanese government for keeping the station operational for the sake of education of a single student. A comment on CCTV’s Facebook page read, “Why should I not want to die for a country like this when the government is ready to go an extra mile just for me. This is the meaning of good governance penetrating right to the grassroot level. Every citizen matters. No Child left behind!”
Owing to the newer railway systems being constructed in Japan, the rural raIsilroads are becoming obsolete, however such stories will help us remember them for the service they have provided even in the most secluded of the areas of the country.
