三陸鉄路全線開通

A few days ago the FNN News on-line reported the following:

三陸鉄道・南リアス線が全線で運転再開　地元沿線は復活に沸く

04/05 19:58

東日本大震災で大きな被害を受けた岩手県の三陸鉄道・南リアス線が、5日、全線で運転を再開し、地元の沿線は復活に沸いた。
三陸鉄道・南リアス線は、2013年4月、大船渡市内の盛と吉浜の間が、運転を再開していた。
5日は、残る釜石までの区間が再開し、全線で復旧した。
乗客は「楽しいですね。よかったと思います」、「いろいろ、みんなバラバラになったけども、みんな寄り添うようになってうれしい」などと話した。
赤十字広報特使で女優の藤原紀香さんや、三陸鉄道におよそ400億円の支援をしたクウェートの駐日大使も駆けつけ、全線再開を祝った。
震災以降、不通区間となっていた平田や唐丹でも、およそ3年ぶりに力強く走る列車の姿が見られた。
記念列車が釜石駅に到着すると、三陸鉄道の望月正彦社長が、「産業振興や地域の活性化に貢献したい」と、全線再開を宣言した。
6日は、北リアス線の不通区間も運転を再開する予定で、北と南の全線で列車が走ることになる。 (岩手めんこいテレビ)

(試譯文)

Sanriku Railroad South Riasu Line in Iwate Prefecture which had suffered serious damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake resumed operation on the whole line on the 5th, and the local area along the railway line were excited by the revival.

The Sanriku Railroad South Riasu Line, between Sakari and Yoshihama of the metropolitan city Ofunato had resumed operation in April, 2013. The remaining section to Kamaishi was resumed on the 5^th, thus the whole line was restored.

Some passenger said "it is pleasing, I think it was good", "although in many ways it had fallen apart, I am glad that it comes back together" etc.

An actress, Ms. Norika Fujiwara of the Red Cross public-relations special envoy, together with Kuwait’s ambassador to Japan who had offered about 40 billion yen in support for the Sanriku Railroad, also arrived at the scene to celebrate the re-opening of the whole line.

Hirata and Toni were the interrupted section after the earthquake disaster, for the first time in about three years, the glimpse of a train that ran with energy could be caught.

When the commemorative train arrived at the Kamaishi Station, Sanriku Tetsudo President Masahiko Mochizuki declared the resumption of the whole line and "would like to contribute to the industrial development and activation of the area".

On the 6th the interrupted section in North Rias Line would resume operation, and a train could run on the whole line north and south.

It is worth noting that Kuwait has given 40 billion yen in support for the re-opening of the Sanriku Railroad. A friend in need is a friend indeed: a sure friend is made known when one is in difficulty. Hopefully I shall try this line some time in the future.