Why is Japan Running A Train In This Defunct Railway Station

Situated in Japan’s north island of Hokkaido, the Kami-Shirataki train station has only two trains that stop by every day on a special timetable.  

It all started three years ago, when Japan Railways decided to shut down it's services in the remote location, as ridership had dramatically fallen. That is until they noticed a young girl still using it to get to school.

When the company learned of their only passenger, they decided to keep the station running until she graduates. They even went the extra mile and re-scheduled the train's timetable according to the girl’s schedule, according to CCTV News. 

Since then, the train stops once to pick up the girl and only a second time to drop her off after school. The station is set to close March 2016 when the girl finally graduates.

When news broke of  the Japanese government's efforts for this young girl, people have been all praise. “Why should I not want to die for a country like this when the government is ready to go an extra mile just for me,” said one comment on CCTV’s Facebook page.“This is the meaning of good governance penetrating right to the grassroot level. Every citizen matters. No Child left behind!”

According to CITYLAB, Japan faces a number of crises, with record-low birthrates, aging population and the possibility of losing a third of its population by 2060, which have all been contributing factors that have hit the country's railroad system. Kami-Shirataki station, which is in a rural part of Hokkaido, lost close to 20 rail lines in the past few decades, reported Fortune.

However, in the midst of the troubles of Japan’s rural railroads, shines the sweet story, of a railway company, who thanks to their efforts made it easy for a young girl to get to school.