Japan Post Holdings and East Japan Railway (JR East) have signed an agreement to expand the integrated operations of post offices and unmanned train stations.
According to the Nippon website, the integrated operations will start around summer 2025 at Awa-Katsuyama and Ubara stations in Chiba Prefecture and Kamasusaka Station in Tochigi Prefecture, all in eastern Japan.
Under the agreement, post office staff will undertake station services, such as providing information on train schedules and fares, as well as fare adjustment. The two companies will also collaborate to improve logistics efficiency, allowing users to receive Yu-Pack parcels at multifunction lockers at stations instead of at home.
The companies hope that their collaboration will help solve social issues such as shrinking communities in rural areas and labor shortages.
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