There can be railway platforms more magical than Harry Potter’s 9¾, and to make it even better, it exists out of fiction. The Kami-Shirataki train station, located in Japan’s north island of Hokkaido, is a case in point. Three years ago, the Japan Railways decided to close the station down as ridership fell dramatically because of its remote location, and freight services came to an end.
The station was supposed to be shut down for good. But, they noticed that a young girl used the station to go to high school every day. So they decided to keep the station open for her until she graduates.
It is incredible how Japan prefers serving its citizen to using the railways as a means to earn money. Now isn’t this what a railway ‘service’ should actually mean?
女子高生一人しか利用者がいない駅、✌( ‘ω’ )✌最高～ pic.twitter.com/NzYiDaUvCG
Every day, only two trains stop at the Kami-Shirataki station depending on when the girl needs to go to school and head back home. The commitment of the government towards education is exemplary!
For years now trains have stopped at the station just for her. Japan Railways will keep the railway station open till she graduates.
The girl is expected to graduate on March 26, 2016, after which the station will be closed.
In India, where cases of rape and molestations in trains are on the rise, it makes us wonder if such a thing will ever be a reality for us. That’s a debate for later, but for now – kudos Japan, Way to go!