With the end of operation of the JR conventional liner trains that run through the Seikan Tunnel, students at Hirosaki University are now expressing their regrets to say goodbye.

Due to the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the operation that ended on March 21 was the limited express "Swan" and "Super Swan" that connect the Aomori Station-Sapporo Station night train/express "Hamanasu" and Shin-Aomori Station-Hakodate Station. ".

"The regular passenger train was the main means of returning home for students at Hirosaki University, who make up about 30% of them from Hokkaido," says Katsura Hayakawa, the manager of the "SHAREA Tabi shop" at the university. "Student discounts have been adapted, and many students have used them habitually, but the chances of returning home will decrease," he said.

According to Hayakawa, the fare to Sapporo Station is 16,360 yen for a round-trip student fare based on the student discount. After the 26th, the Shinkansen will be used, and it will cost more than 10,000 yen one way. "Students are now seeing more and more ferry crossings from Aomori Airport to New Chitose Airport by ferry across the Tsugaru Straits. This is a huge expense for students because they cannot use the student discount."

One of the Hongik University students from Noboribetsu, Hokkaido said, "I had a lot of students in the Hamanasu car on my way home, so I was looking forward to seeing what I knew, but I was sad because I couldn't do that either." Drop.