Kumanichi reports that the two-car diesel train which had been stranded at Aso’s Akamizu Station on JR’s Hohi Line since the main quake of 4/16 has been loaded onto trucks and sent to Kitakyushu for refurbishment. The train had been running passengerless to Miyachi Station when the quake struck and was derailed; after being rerailed, it was able neither to return to Kumamoto nor continue to Oita due to landslides and bridge outings, so it was parked in Akamizu.
The article notes that train service was restored between Oita and Kumamoto’s Kurokawa in July, but restoration of the remaining portion remains undecided. This has placed a burden on local residents, who must now use buses to access Kumamoto City, greatly increasing travel time.
