TOKYO - The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation has reduced 206 Toei bus services in its October timetable revision, underscoring how the nationwide shortage of drivers is now taking a serious toll on the capital’s public transport.
Nineteen routes out of 126 were affected, including services from major hubs such as Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Ueno and Kasai stations, where large numbers of commuters rely on buses.
The reduction reflects a broader trend across the industry. Other operators, including Kanto Bus, Odakyu Bus, Kokusai Kogyo Bus, Tokyu Bus and Seibu Bus, are also cutting services while raising fares to improve employee treatment and secure drivers. Fare increases range from 10 yen to 20 yen, depending on the operator, with reductions scheduled through 2025.
The driver shortage is not confined to Tokyo. In May 2024, Toyama Chiho Railway suspended 60 express bus services across five routes to free up drivers for school trips, offering refunds to passengers with existing bookings. In Hokkaido’s Kushiro, 17 elementary schools had to abandon their traditional September school trips after travel agencies were unable to secure buses during the tourist season. Instead, they reorganized into joint school trips in October and November, grouping schools and sharing destinations and accommodation to secure drivers during the off-season.
Experts say the root causes lie in low pay, demanding work conditions and the inability to secure rest days. Professor Kazuya Itaya of Ryutsu Keizai University notes that drivers often lose scheduled days off when colleagues fall ill, as buses cannot simply be suspended. “Creating a work environment that drivers can sustain is essential. Wage increases to attract and retain personnel make fare hikes inevitable,” he said.
While these measures may burden passengers, industry officials argue they are unavoidable. Bus routes provide vital connections to hospitals, government offices and residential areas not covered by trains, and their absence could affect daily life and even safety, particularly during extreme weather. Passengers like anchor Maoko Hibi emphasized the importance of maintaining bus access and called for both motivation and working conditions for drivers to be improved.
Experts also point out that mental stress, such as complaints from passengers when buses are delayed, adds to the pressure on drivers and contributes to resignations. As reductions and fare hikes continue, the challenge for the bus industry is balancing financial sustainability with maintaining essential public transport.
Source: TBS
