By Miyoko Ishigami
(With Photos) OFUNATO, Japan, April 3 (KUNA) -- With the first batch of three brand-new train cars funded by Kuwait, Sanriku Railway Co. in Japan's disaster-hit region relaunched its much-awaited operations on Wednesday after a two-year hiatus.
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan, Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi, joined residents and guests in a ceremony held at Yoshihama Station to celebrate the restoration of service for a 21.6-km track on Sanriku Railway's South Rias Line. The line, which runs along the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture, had suspended after its train cars, rails, bridges and stations were wrecked by a magnitude 9.0-quake and ensuring tsunami on March 11, 2011.
While thanking Kuwait for great support, Sanriku Railway President Masahiko Mochizuki declared the relaunch of train services. The three, part of eight new diesel railcars purchased with aid money from Kuwait, have replaced the damaged ones. The remaining five cars are scheduled to be introduced in April next year, he said.
In addition, the money was used for reconstruction of five damaged station buildings on the line. Words of appreciation for Kuwaiti assistance, saying "We greatly appreciate the support from the State of Kuwait," are inscribed on the side of the new cars in Japanese, English and Arabic languages, while the national emblem of Kuwait is drawn at its head and back. The carriages, each costs JPY 150 million (USD 1.6 million), are equipped with bigger windows and more comfortable seats than the old ones as well as barrier free measures.
Following the catastrophe, upon directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait offered the donation of 5 million barrels of crude oil to Japan, equivalent to some USD 550 million, of which value was distributed to the three hardest-hit prefectures including Iwate.
To mark the event, the reopening also allowed people to ride on the first three relaunched trains for free with a commemorative certificate. 1,000 commemorative train tickets will be also sold from Thursday.
The resumption of the operations between Yoshimaha and Sakari stations, both in the coastal city of Ofunato City, means about 60 percent of the entire South Rias track has been restored. Sanriku Railway operates 107.6 km of track, consisting of two lines -- the North Rias Line and the South Rias Line. The two lines suffered damage at nearly 320 locations, and it would cost about JPY 11 billion (USD 118 million) to restore them. The company expects to resume full operations on both lines in April 2014.
At the ceremony, Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Tourism Naoyoshi Sato said, "The restoration of services is regarded as a symbol of recovery efforts and encouragement to the disaster-hit area." Sanriku Railway was established in 1984 as a joint venture of private firms and local municipalities, playing many roles for residents, including for commute, hospital access and shopping. In grateful acknowledgment of Kuwait's assistance, Governor of Iwate Prefecture Takuya Tasso, who doubles as Chairman of Sanriku Railway, gave the ambassador a gift made from the damaged rail. "The new train cars were introduced with Kuwait's assistance. The restoration of the line has become a symbol of revival from the disaster and the hope of local people, and we will make maximum efforts toward full resumption of operations," the governor said in his speech "We aim to further accelerate post-disaster reconstruction this year." The disaster left around 19,000 people dead or missing in the northeastern region, including more than 5,800 Iwate residents, according to the National Police Agency.
For his part, the ambassador voiced expectation that relaunch of the line will also carry a message of hope to every resident, noting that the ceremony marks a "new step" in the course of friendship between the two countries. Al-Otaibi reaffirmed Kuwait's commitment to stand by the Japanese people, and to strengthen the strong and enduring friendship with Japan.
"By our strong friendship that goes back to more than five decades in history, HH the Amir ordered the donations to our friends the people of Japan, also as a token of appreciation for the historic stances that Japan took since the independence of Kuwait," Al-Otaibi said. "I can assure you that it is not my country's contribution but the resilience and determination of the people of these prefectures that have been the driving force and cornerstone of the reconstruction," underlined the ambassador, who has already visited disaster-hit Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.
"Therefore, we are full of hope that complete recovery is close, that residents will return to their homes and that this region will be rebuilt to become even better than it was before." Residents also voiced messages of joy. "I have been longing for the trains to return, a woman in her 50s, who rode on the memorial train, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Another woman in her 70s, who lives nearby one of the stations, said in a voice touched with emotion, "I am near to tears. I have been waiting for this day. Thank you for coming back to us." In a statement to KUNA, Mochizuki said the local community enormously welcomes the restoration of train service. "With new cars and restored station buildings funded by Kuwait, we are now able to offer comfortable rail travel not only to the local people but also to customers coming from inside and outside Iwate Prefecture," he said. "We really appreciate great support from Kuwait." (end) mk.asa KUNA 031019 Apr 13NNNN