Chapter 12 - COVID-19 public transport responses in Tokyo

Abstract

Japan is one of the first countries where COVID-19 was confirmed outside China. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, Japan prepared a national framework including public transport to respond to an epidemic of a new and unknown infectious disease based on the learning from the H1N1 influenza in 2009. Public transport runs generally on a commercial basis, but operators are required to prepare for epidemic of infectious diseases and operate as usual as possible, while limited financial support was given to the operators during the COVID-19 pandemic. As working from home diffuses and the number of commuters seems to remain continuously reduced in Tokyo and other large cities, surplus of operator incomes available for cross-subsidies for rural and regional services are much reduced. This will probably lead to a necessity to amend organization and financial structures of rural and regional PT services outside of Tokyo.