The news about the abolition of Uko ferry, the connection between Takamatsu and Tamano, is very shocking. (*As of 5th March, partial continuation after 26th March is announced.)
Major newspapers introduce an opinion that the confusion of national policy has caused this time abolition. But it seems to me that multiple factors have affected. Therefore, this case is difficult to solve and it also suggests the fate of the transportation system in Japan.
What kind of factors affect in this matter?
In my opinion, below factors seem to affect.
1) The advancement in means of communication:
The necessity of direct meeting itself is shrinking due to the appearance of Internet and cellar phone.
2) The advancement in energy-efficient automobile:
Hybrid cars and kei cars have enabled us to move with less gasoline consumption.
3) The actualization of well-developed traffic information systems and flexible trip planning.
4) Falling population due to the decrease in the number of children.
5) As ever-increasing economy ends, incomes have been decreasing.
6) The improvement in the comfort of the highway shuttle bus trip.
If complete deregulations of highway-related matter were done under these conditions, perhaps, the highway shuttle bus would finally achieve super-low price.
The ferry abolition of this time seems to be the inevasible consequence caused by above factors.
This logic is entirely applicable to the Shinkansen case too.
If complete deregulation and innovation around highway shuttle bus were done, Shinkansen would be the train only for big company's business trip. Ordinary people will manage to make a shuttle bus trip, which would be much cheaper than today.
Even Shinkansen wouldn't be able to keep today's popularity.
