train

[Iwate Prefecture] I participated in a demonstration experiment where you can ride the Yamada Line and 106 limited express/express buses with a JR ticket!

Daiwa Consilio
2024.06.11

table of contents

1 What is the demonstration experiment for coexistence of railways and buses?
2 First, take the JR Yamada Line from Morioka to Miyako!
3 On the way back, take the 106 limited express/express bus to Morioka!
4 I thought about the demonstration experiment
- 4.1 Information
5 summary
- 5.1 Related article

An experiment aimed at coexistence between the JR Yamada Line connecting Morioka and Miyako and the `` 106 (Hyakuroku) Limited Express/Express'' This program is being implemented on a one-year schedule.

I decided to take a ride on both trains to find out what the meaning of this experiment is, which allows you to ride a private company's route bus with a JR ticket.

What is the demonstration experiment for coexistence of railways and buses?

JR Yamada Line and Iwate Prefecture Kita Bus "106 Limited Express/Express Bus" route (between Morioka and the area, the north side is the railway and the south side is the national highway)

This is an experiment where you can ride the ``106 Limited Express/Express Bus'' between Morioka and Miyako as long as your JR ticket (commuter tickets and coupon tickets are also accepted, discount tickets such as Seishun 18 Kippu are excluded) is valid for the same section. .

The fares for each type remain the same, and the bus fare is 2,000 to 2,200 yen compared to 1,980 yen for a JR ticket, giving you a maximum savings of 220 yen (as of May 24, 2024).

Demonstration experiment announcement flyer

Furthermore, since the driving distance between Morioka and Miyako is over 101km, you can get off on the way with a JR ticket, but you can also get off on the bus (however, you cannot get off on the way at the bus stop between Morioka and Kukai).

Additionally, you cannot ride JR trains with a bus ticket, and if you board a bus mid-way, the bus route fare will be applied.

First, take the JR Yamada Line from Morioka to Miyako!

110 type — 1-car 110-type train bound for Miyako departing from Morioka Station at 6:32

I boarded the 6:32 a.m. train bound for Miyako from Morioka Station platform 2, which was early in the morning and less crowded.

The station restaurants were open before they opened, and New Days inside the station opened at 6:30, so I had breakfast at a convenience store in front of the station but there were some that opened from 6:00 like the Family Mart in Menkoi Yokocho underground. It's what I want.

Inside of Kiha 110 series car Box seats for 4 and 2 people, toilet in the back

Morioka - Kamimorioka - Yamagishi - Kamiyonai

The road between Kamimorioka and Yamagishi runs through a residential area.

Diesel vehicles departing from Morioka Station run through residential areas on a different route from National Route 106. Although the trains stop at these unmanned stations, there are very few people who ride them.There are commuter and school trains that run only within this section at later times.

Although the train is a one-car train, it is not a one-man operation; there is a conductor on board in addition to the driver, and the conductor asks passengers about their destination while on the train and sells them tickets.

Beyond Yamagishi Station, the number of people gradually decreases and the rural scenery spreads out along the Yonai River, before arriving at Kamimenai Station.

Yonai Water Purification Plant seen from the train window on the Yamada Line

clusters of Yaebenishidare Higanzakura trees planted in 1934 (Showa 9) , when the water treatment plant was completed, in full bloom. .

Kamimeinai - Kuzakai

Kiha 110 type vehicle climbs through the dense forest in the mountains between Kamiumai and the area, with the diesel engine revving up.

There used to be Oshida Station and Asagishi Station between these two stations As a result, this section the longest between stations within JR East's jurisdiction, at 25.7km , and the train continues to run through the mountains.

Furthermore, this section has the highest number of incidents of contact with wild animals on the Yamada Line.

Ward area - Matsusa - Kawauchi

The area near Kukai Station, which connects Morioka City to Miyako City, is at an altitude of 744m, the highest in the Tohoku region, and starts running parallel to National Route 106 from here. The area between this ward and Miyako is a section that coexists with the 106 Limited Express/Express Bus, and there are bus stops near each station where you can transfer.

Furthermore, between Matsukusa Station and Kawauchi Station there used to be Hiratsudo Station, which famous as a "unexplored station," I did.

Beyond Matsusa, National Route 106 (old road) and Hei River near Hirazudo Station

the Heiigawa River which flows into the Pacific Ocean in Miyako City , each river intersects like a braided pigtail as it heads east.

Kawauchi - Hakoishi - Rikuchu Kawai - Haratai - Moichi

Kawauchi Station with a beautiful station building

The Yamada Line mostly follows the right bank (south side) of the Hei River, intersecting with the national highway up to Harobori, and you can see famous sites along the Hei River, such as the ``48 Kama''

Just before Haradai, we move to the left bank of the Hei River and arrive at Shigeichi Station, which was once the starting station of Iwaizumi , which was once called the ``Yokozuna of the East of Local Lines.''

The Iwaizumi Line was closed due to a landslide that occurred on July 31, 2010, and was abolished on April 1, 2014, handing over the title of "Yokozuna of the East" to the Yamada Line, but the station still stands at Shigeichi Station. Traces are left behind.

Shigeru City - Hikime - Hanahara City - Sentoku - Miyako

Kamime Station is the only station on the Yamada Line outsourced to the private sector.

The Yamada Line and National Route 106 run side by side from Shigeru City to Miyako, along the left bank of the Hei River, and before long you can see the new Miyako City Hall, which was damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and relocated from the seaside. Arrived at Miyako Station.

Inside Miyako Station, JR's 110 series and Sanriku Railway's 36 series vehicles lined up to welcome us.

On the way back, take the 106 limited express/express bus to Morioka!

Miyako City Hall, which is directly connected to JR Miyako Station, seen from bus stop 6 in front of Miyako Station

You can purchase a ticket to Morioka at the JR Midori no Madoguchi counter at Miyako Station, and then board the ``106 Limited Express/Express'' bus bound for the east exit of Morioka Station from platform 6 in front of the Iwate Prefectural Kita Bus Miyako Station Information Center. Masu.

106 Limited Express departing from platform 6 (wrapping bus provided by a bakery in Miyako City)

There is also a bus that starts in front of Funakoshi Station in Yamada Town, but you can only board from Miyako Station with a JR ticket . It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to Morioka by express train, but this time I took the express train, which took about the same time as the JR train (about 2 hours and 15 minutes).

Although it is an intercity bus, it is used like a regular route bus in Miyako City, and its ridership is high even on weekdays.

Stations and bus stops where you can transfer between trains and buses

Please note that this article only lists bus stops where you can get on and off with a JR ticket.

Miyako Station - Sentoku Station - Hanahara City - Mizome - Shigeru City

Inside the 106 express bus departing from Miyako Station

Both are nearby JR stations with the same name, and are bus stops where you can transfer between buses and trains.

Kamime bus stop — A cute apple-shaped bus stop

Sentoku Station , the Hei River will appear on your left and you will continue heading west along the river, but since you are closer to the river than the railway, you will be able to enjoy a different view of the Hei River.

At the Shigeruichi bus stop, several customers got off, presumably to transfer to a bus bound for Iwaizumi.

Shigeruichi - Harobai - Kawai - Hakoishi - Kawauchi - (Yamabiko Farm Direct Hall)

the bus stopped for a restroom break at the roadside station ``Yamabiko Sanchokukan''

However, the stoppage time was only 3 minutes, and the only people who went outside were customers buying drinks from the vending machine.

There is also a bus stop at Yamabiko Sanchokukan, but you cannot get on and off with a JR ticket.

(Yamabiko Farm Direct Hall) ~ Matsukusa ~ Kukai ~ Morioka Station

Miyako Morioka Crossing Road seen from the old National Route 106 near the Kukai bus stop (just before the Kukai Tunnel)

After leaving Sanchokan, the bus continues along the left bank of the Hei River, passing several bus stops before stopping at Matsusa and Kukai.

The Kukai Pass on National Route 106 is a difficult place where there are many traffic accidents and the road surface is often covered with snow and ice in the winter. With the completion of the new Kukai Tunnel, it has become easier and faster to pass through, but the 106 Express is still using the old pass road. Head through Morioka city.

Yanagawa Dam, which was completed in 2021 , we entered Morioka city along Yanagawa and arrived on time at the final stop, Morioka Station East Exit Bus Terminal No. 7. Did.

I thought about the demonstration experiment

This time, I took the Yamada Line from Morioka to Miyako, and from Miyako I took the 106 express bus for a day trip, but on the day I boarded the Yamada Line, there was only one bus bound for Morioka from Miyako Station in the morning, so this experiment was Without it, it would not have been possible to take a day trip with a JR ticket.

By combining both schedules, the number of flights has essentially increased, and it can be said that convenience has improved.

Another benefit is that the 106 express bus, which uses the Miyako-Morioka crossroads, can shorten the travel time by 40 minutes each way, and the JR ticket, which is cheaper than the bus, can shorten travel time.

However, there are few tourist spots in areas where you can get off on the bus, so while it may be convenient for local residents to live on, there may be little benefit to using it for sightseeing.

Information

summary

After actually riding on both trains, I found that the seats on the train are spacious, allowing you to move around inside the train, use the toilet, and move around even on long rides, while the seats on the bus are a little narrow, but between Morioka and Miyako. The travel time required is short and the frequency of flights is high, making it hard to choose between the two options.

At this point, we do not yet know what kind of results a demonstration experiment will produce to encourage the use of public transportation by allowing people to transfer between trains and buses that run on the same route.

However, there is a high possibility that the Yamada Line, which is a ``highly deficit line'' in JR East, will be discontinued if this continues, and there are growing calls to prevent the closure of this valuable line where you can enjoy the scenery of a hidden region interwoven with mountains and rivers. , this experiment is said to have been carried out.

I sincerely hope that this experiment will lead to some positive results and that the Yamada Line will continue to exist as a local line in the red that can coexist with route buses.