Hiroshima Electric Railway restarts charter bus service

Hiroshima Electric Railway is relaunching its charter bus business for the first time in 30 years, starting October 1, to meet rising tourism and inbound demand in Hiroshima Prefecture. The company has introduced six new vehicles, including large and medium-sized buses, named ‘Yoritorimidori’.

The bus designs feature bird-themed motifs: one side focuses on ‘resting wings’ to encourage relaxation with specialized seating and power outlets, while the other focuses on ‘stretching wings’ to represent travel enjoyment.

To address the regional shortage of bus drivers, the company will initially have 14 route bus drivers manage the charter services. The company plans to optimize operations by utilizing drivers during peak tourism seasons, such as spring and autumn school trips, and intends to focus on recruiting more drivers, including foreign nationals, in the future.