The nation's major private railway operators sought Transport Ministry approval Feb. 14 to raise their fares April 1 in line with the 2 percentage point hike in the consumption tax, the railway companies said.
The 14 private railway companies, including Tokyu Corp., Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and subway operator Teito Rapid Transit Authority, will raise their fares by an average of 1.94 percent, the companies said. Medium- to long-distance train fares will be raised by either 10 yen or 20 yen, they said. For example, Teito's middle-distance fare is currently 180 yen, but it will be increased to 190 yen.
The railways are planning to apply the current fares to commuter passes bought during March for use after April 1. A revision of fares for private railways and Teito would be the first since September 1995.