[MLIT] New Fare System Established with Additional Fees for Barrier-free Access at Railway Stations

On 28 December 2021, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued an ordinance to allow railway operators to add the cost of barrier-free facilities at railway stations to fares: Ordinance Partially Amending the Enforcement Regulations of the Track Law and the Railway Business Law (MLIT Ordinance No. 82).  The legal bases are Article 11, paragraph 1 of the Act on Railway Tracks (Act No. 76 of 1921) and Article 16, paragraph 4 of the Railway Business Act (Act No. 92 of 1986).

Specifically, the Ordinance added new barrier-free access fees to the list of charges that can be collected separately from fares with due notification, as stipulated in Article 34 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Railway Business Act (Ministry of Transport Ordinance No. 6 of 1987). The barrier-free access fees mean "fees related to ensuring safe and smooth transportation through facilities provided for the smooth movement of users and use of facilities." In addition, Article 21 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Railway Tracks (1923 Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Railways Ordinance) contains similar provisions concerning trams, etc., which the MLIT also amended.

The enforcement date was the date of promulgation (December 28, 2021).  In the future, operators will add the cost of barrier-free facilities to fares.

For more information, please visit the website below (Japanese only):
https://kanpou.npb.go.jp/20211228/20211228h00646/20211228h006460003f.html

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