Feasibility of Direct Shinkansen Service to Hakodate Station Using Mini-Shinkansen

抄録

Due to the extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo, scheduled for FY2030, passengers between Sapporo and Hakodate will be required to transfer between the Shinkansen and the Hakodate Liner at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, which will reduce convenience by eliminating the direct connection. This study examined the possibility of a Hokkaido Shinkansen line that would run to Hakodate Station in the form of a mini-Shinkansen, and this study constructed a transportation mode choice model using a questionnaire survey. The results showed that many passengers would prefer direct Shinkansen service, even if an extra fare is added between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Hakodate. The study examined a policy for developing the Shinkansen service that enters Hakodate Station in relation to Shinkansen service using a parallel conventional line. The study also estimated the demand and project cost and analyzed the profitability of the project, finding that the project would be sufficiently profitable.