From April 2011, JR trains in Shiga and the Kansai area will be running less frequently. West Japan Railway Co. announced that factories in Tohoku and Ibaraki Prefecture which make train motor parts are inoperative. They still do not know when the parts can be procured again.

Without these parts for train motors, JR West is unable to maintain their trains properly. Therefore, to reduce the trains’ maintenance requirements, they will run trains less frequently from April.

In Shiga from April 11, the JR Kosei Line between Kyoto and Omi-Maiko will have only three train runs per hour between 10 am to and around 5 pm instead of four or five runs. Also, from Maibara to Omi-Shiotsu on the JR Hokuriku Line, the extra train runs on weekends and national holidays will be eliminated from April 11. These extra train runs were provided to accommodate tourists visiting northern Shiga in conjunction with the current NHK Taiga Drama Go whose backdrop includes Nagahama.

The fewer train runs shouldn’t affect rush-hour commuters. The Osaka Loop Line, Sagano Line, and Nara Line will also see fewer train runs.