JR Hokkaido suggested the electrification of Hakodate Line between Hakodate and Shin-Hakodate, which will be separated from JR Hokkaido, to Hakodate city.Hokkaido prefecture replied that they'll help the new third sector which is going to own the section financially as much as they can.
Although Hakodate city will announce whether they consent to the management separation by December 16th, it is still unclear whether local economy groups accept it or not.
According to Hakodate city, Hakodate Line between Hakodate and Shin-Hakodate(14.5km) will be electrified when Shin-Hakodate station(Tentative name) begins its operation in the end of 2015. Introduction of new rolling stocks will shorten the travel time from current 27 mins to 17 mins, and convenient rapid trains will be set. JR Hokkaido spends 4 billion Yen on the electrification and purchasing new rolling stocks.
Even after management transferring, JR will be in charge of operation of the trains and selling tickets.
Hokkaido explained that they'll spend appropriate money on helping new companies, initial investment ,and expenses of train operations. And they added "We'll do our best" on the way or the portion of spending.
Moreover, they told that they'll cooperate installing a new ticketing system which can make us transfer to other JR Lines smoothly.
Hokkaido prefecture begged Hakodate city to answer whether Hakodate city can consent to the management separation by December 16th. Hakodate city poses the plan to 5 groups including city council, local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and "Cho-kai" Unions in order to ask them whether they can consent to the plan.
Eiichi Matsumoto, th president of local Chamber of Commerce and Industry said "I take it for granted that JR Hokkaido continues to own the line, and we have to insist on it. It is impossible for us to solve the problems rapidly which are highly related to survival of Hakodate 15〜20 years later"
The city council heard the explanation of the plan, and the plan will be discussed in General Standing Committee.
Cited from http://www.asahi.com/travel/rail/news/HOK201112130013.html (asahi.com)
I guess shuttle trains between Hakodate and Nanae will be extended to Shin-Hakodate(Oshima-Ono), and that frequency of trains will be doubled.
