By Makoto OKUMURA and Kazuki MORIAI

Due to Typhoon No. 19 in 2019, 120 cars were flooded and scrapped in the Nagano Train Depot of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Railroad operators have since been studying vehicle pre-evacuation procedures. In this study, we used a decision tree to analyze the transition of the decision of operator over time. It was found that pre-evacuation should be carried out even for floods with small probability of damage either based on the social outcome or the profit of operators, and that pre-evacuation may not be approved when based on the users' payoff for early suspension and delay in resumption of service.

This study addresses the issue of cost sharing in the development of the West Kyushu Shinkansen and analyzes it using ”core” and ”nucleolus” methods of game theory. Saga Prefecture, the national government, and Nagasaki Prefecture have not yet reached an agreement on the construction method and cost-sharing for the West Kyushu Shinkansen. Based on the benefit amount, this study shows that the current cost sharing among the three parties is not appropriate using the "core" of game theory. Then, the optimal cost-sharing amount based on the benefit principle was calculated among the three parties using "nucleolus".

REST API with JSON is expected to be applied to data linkage in the port logistics field in the future. We analyzed the current status of its application and discussed ways for its spread focusing on platform system (PF) such as Port Community System. Consequently, the following key points were identified: implementation of standards at the semantics level to message specifications; co-existence of API and EDI; and measures by PF-operators to reduce the burden on PF-users for the development of data linkage modules. Furthermore, we discussed the policy on API implementation for the port logistics’ PF operated by Japanese government.

In this study, to determine the impact of COVID-19 on public transportation, we compiled the financial statements disclosed by Japanese listed transportation operators and analyzed their operating revenues and operating income. In addition, we newly analyzed the status of assets and liabilities, using borrowings, cash, and fixed assets as indicators. The results indicate that transportation operators have been able to avoid shutting down public transportation services by securing working capital through borrowings, although their revenues and losses have continued to decline.

There are numerous cases all over Japan where railways and buses run in parallel for a long distance; both lines show a deficit in sparsely populated areas. I note the following problems based on the above-mentioned circumstances. First, bus companies receive subsidies from the central and local governments, while the burden of maintaining a local public transport service is shifting to railway companies. Second, the total number of trains and buses exceeds demand. Third, the existing subsidy system supports such circumstances.