COVID-19: Suspension of all Joyful Train services

All Joyful Train services will be suspended until 31 May, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced in an official statement on 8 April 2020. This is part of the railway operator's preventive measures undertaken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has seen an increase in confirmed cases this month. 

The suspended train services include:

Kanto and Izu Region

• SL Gunma Minakami
• SL Gunma Yokokawa *Including SL YOGISHA Yokokawa and EL operations
• B.B.BASE

Tohoku Region

• Toreiyu Tsubasa
• FruiTea Fukushima
• SL Ginga
• TOHOKU EMOTION
• POKÉMON with YOU
• Resort Asunaro (Resort Asunaro Shimokita, Sanriku Train Miyako)
• Resort Shirakami *Including Gono Line Cruising Train

Shin'etsu Region

• SL Banetsu Monogatari
• KAIRI
• GENBI SHINKANSEN
• Koshino Shu*Kura (Yuzawa Shu*Kura, Ryuto Shu*Kura)
• Oykot
• HIGH RAIL 1375 *Including HIGH RAIL Hoshizora
• Resort View Furusato *Including Night View Obasute

A total of 1,000 Joyful Train services were suspended.

Japan has declared a state of emergency for all 47 prefectures on 16 April, as the number of confirmed cases has doubled within a week to reach the 9,000 mark. This decree will be in effect until 6 May.

JR-East will make a separate announcement in June regarding the resumption of Joyful Train services.

Header image credit: Wyncy Tan

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