JR East corrects financials, updates local line strategy

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced on October 31, 2025, a correction to its "Presentation Materials - FY2026.3 Second Quarter Financial Results," originally released on October 30, 2025. The correction specifically addresses information on page P.11 regarding the "Best Mix of Mobility" initiative, which focuses on the status of discussions concerning local lines and corrects the position of the Yonesaka Line on its route map.

The company's operational results for line segments with average passenger figures of less than 2,000 persons/day revealed a significant operating loss. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, these 36 lines (72 sections) generated passenger revenues of 6.3 bn yen against operating expenses of 82.1 bn yen, resulting in an operating loss of 75.7 bn yen. Projections for the fiscal year ending March 2025 show a similar trend for 36 lines (71 sections), with passenger revenues of 6.2 bn yen and operating expenses of 85.3 bn yen, leading to an anticipated operating loss of 79.0 bn yen.

JR East is actively engaged in discussions regarding the future of several local lines. For the Tsugaru Line (Kanita - Minmaya section), a basic agreement was reached with local governments in June 2025 to shift to automobile-based transportation. Discussions are ongoing for the Yonesaka Line (Imaizumi - Sakamachi section), where JR East has presented potential restoration methods and their financial implications. Additionally, verification tests are underway for the Agatsuma Line (Naganohara Kusatsuguchi - Omae section) to address commuting issues, and the Kururi Line (Kururi - Kazusakameyama section) is exploring a shift to a bus-dependent transportation system.