On Saturday 2nd August, the Main Line of Hiroshima Electric Railway between Hiroshima Station and Matobacho tram stop will be permanently closed. Instead, a new, shorter route connecting them will open on the following day. As a result, Enkobashicho, the only intermediate tram stop on the current route, will be permanently closed as well.
Enkobashicho is the tram stop adjacent to Hiroshima Station, the de facto central station of the city. It opened in 1912, and it was named after a nearby bridge called Enkobashi. The tram stop has very narrow platforms with no step-free access. There were no platforms until 1974, and they do not look safe even with them today.
Who uses Enkobashicho tram stop, which is less than 200 yards from the central station? Some passengers heading towards the central station alight at Enkobashicho, because services often come to a standstill due to traffic congestion. In that case, it is better to walk two minutes than to wait on a tram for 3-5 minutes. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, nearly 2,000 people on average used the tram stop daily.
There is not much to see around the tram stop, but three rusted hand pumps on the pavement are striking. According to a small handmade sign, these pumps date back to the early 1940s or even before that, and they supplied water to those burnt by the atomic bomb on the Day 80 years ago. Whilst they are not officially designated as "atomic bomb heritage" by the authorities, Nippon Television concluded that they are genuine historical remains.
The rerouting of the Main Line constitutes the essential part of a redevelopment plan initiated by the city. As the new route is less likely to be affected by traffic jams, and the new Hiroshima Station platforms are larger than the current ones, passengers will be able to access the central station faster. Enkobashicho tram stop will have fulfilled its purpose, and will be demolished later this year for road widening.
No comments:
Post a Comment