Abstract
The provision of passenger through trains is beneficial to both railway companies and passengers. However, railway companies provide passenger through train services differently and with divergent aims in Japan when compared with those in EU countries. In Japan, the integrated railway companies provide passenger through trains with cooperation, and they divide the operational responsibilities clearly at the border station. Conversely, the EU tries to promote through train services across the border on the basis of vertical separation to introduce competition between operators. Even though Japanese rail policies are not aimed at introducing competition on the track, the number of cases of through train services has been increasing substantially and these trains have been operated smoothly and safely. Provided railway operators do not need to follow EU rail policies, it seems worthwhile to learn lessons from Japanese experiences to promote passenger through train services.
