Kyoto Tango Railway is a 114km line located along Amanohashidate, one of the 3 most scenic spots in Japan. Once the most in deficit railway company in Japan, it is now managed by the Willer Group, a long-distance bus operator. Through a process known as "vertical separation," Willer has taken over the day-to-day operation of the railway, while the local government maintains its infrastructure. See how Willer is transforming the local railway company using marketing and IT strategies.

Chizu Express is a third sector local railway, which runs 56.1km through the Chugoku Mountains between Tottori and Hyogo Prefectures. From the beginning, the railway was constructed for high-speed operation. While many third sector railway companies are struggling to make a profit, Chizu Express has been in the black for 21 consecutive years. See how the company is able to run through the mountains at 130km/h with their pendulum type express trains, as well as the company's strategies to increase ridership on their local trains. In "Trains in Focus," hop on JR West's "Ametsuchi" tourist train that runs between Tottori and Izumoshi Stations.