Aomori's private railway "Tsugaru Railway" (Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture, TEL 0173-34-2148 ) is preparing for a new project after the new coronavirus has converged.

The Tsugaru Railway is a 20.7 km local railway from Tsugaru Goshogawara Station to Tsugaru Nakasato Station in Nakadomari Town. Since the birthplace of the novelist Osamu Dazai is located along the railway line, we are also focusing on attracting tourists with event trains such as the "stove train" and "wind chime train", and trains such as the "Run, Melos!" Inbound demand has also increased in recent years.

This year, sales have fallen by more than 50% since March due to the impact of the new coronavirus. It has been gradually recovering since July, but due to the suspension of the "GoTo Campaign", reservations have been canceled one after another, and it is said that it will reach 5,000 people from January next year. Mr. Chojiro Sawada, the president, recalls, "The number of passengers was originally on a downward trend, and although the new coronavirus was in a more difficult business situation, it was a year in which we continued to take on new challenges with the help of everyone."

In March of this year, I created a poster that appealed to the predicament, saying, "Do you still think that Tsugaru Railway is okay?" To help people understand the current situation. A forum for locals was planned, but it was canceled due to the announcement of a state of emergency. The impact of the poster attracted a lot of attention, and nearly 500 donations were made to the "rail owner system" that supports Tsugaru Railway. Mr. Sawada says, "I am grateful for the support beyond my imagination."

From May, a one-day ticket with an "Amabie" postcard drawn by a local artist will be on sale (end of sale), and a future ticket that includes paper crafts and used hard tickets proposed by the Supporters Club Kanto Branch. Released. Aomori's V-tuber, Rinko Aomori, has solicited a demonstration project "Rinko Aomori Section", and donations from the rail owner system have increased.

"Virtual Ride", which started on April 28 to introduce the situation along the railway line, is a plan to send a video of the scenery of the car window to the video posting site "YouTube". Currently, as the second installment, the autumn scene is being delivered sequentially for each section. Mr. Sawada says, "While there is a demand for refraining from going out and moving, people from inside and outside the prefecture are worried, and I started to feel like I was riding." "Some viewers donate more than the fare," he said.

Established in 2018 (Heisei 30), "Tsugaru A More" is a meeting where young employees from two cities and towns along the railway line cross the boundaries of local governments and think about revitalizing the Tsugaru Railway. We planned photo contests and illumination vehicles, and from January 1, 2021, proposed new benefits to the rail owner system. Mr. Sawada reveals that the applicant will be presented with a limited number of "station name sign key chains" and "completion drawings of Tsugaru Railway Company", and "we have received ideas that we cannot think of."

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the opening of the entire line in 1930 (Showa 5), and the 90th anniversary event was planned in November, but it was postponed until next year. Employees are aging, and the number of staff is less than one-third of the previous year. It is not possible to take a leave of absence as a public transportation system, so we will continue to operate after taking measures against infectious diseases.

Mr. Sawada said, "We are continuing with the help of various people. We are delighted to have you ride as a railway company, and when the corona converges, we have prepared a plan that many people can enjoy. I want to keep it. "