養老鉄道株式会社

Yoro Railway Co., Ltd. was issued administrative guidance on December 17, 2025, for multiple violations related to railway operation practices. These included operating trains with staff not holding the required driver licenses, allowing staff without proper identification to enter the crew room without justification, non-licensed staff handling train doors contrary to regulations, improper management of keys for crew room access, and insufficient training and supervision of staff, which led to violations of the Railway Business Act and related regulations.

Yoro Railway Co., Ltd. was issued administrative guidance on December 17, 2025, by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The violations include: (1) operating trains with staff not holding the required locomotive driver licenses; (2) allowing staff to enter the crew room without proper identification; (3) non-licensed staff handling train doors contrary to regulations; (4) improper management of keys for crew room access; and (5) insufficient effectiveness of staff training on train operation procedures. These violations were confirmed through inspections and review of operational practices, as detailed in the official report.

On May 12, 2025, it was discovered that a train driver belonging to Yoro Railway Co., Ltd. had operated a train without properly conducting alcohol breath tests using an alcohol detector before and after duty, as mandated by Article 11 of the Driver Handling Rules. A safety audit conducted on May 13, 2025, identified deficiencies requiring corrective action. The company was instructed to verify the appropriateness of operational methods, implementation status, and management of alcohol testing, investigate the root causes, and develop measures to prevent recurrence, ensuring the safety of railway transportation. The company is required to report on the measures taken by July 14, 2025. It was confirmed that multiple assistant conductors did not perform alcohol tests on a specific driver but recorded no alcohol detection, and the management department was unaware of the situation. The company must ensure proper alcohol testing, accurate record-keeping, re-educate staff on safety and compliance, and strengthen safety management systems. Failure to improve safety management may result in orders to improve business operations under the Railway Business Act. The legal basis for the order includes Article 23 of the Railway Business Act and related provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. The source of this enforcement is the Chubu Regional Transport Bureau.

On June 13, 2025, the Chubu Regional Development Bureau issued administrative guidance to Yoro Railway Co., Ltd. (corporate number 6200001016399), headquartered in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, under the Railway Business Act and the Ministerial Ordinance on Technical Standards for Railways. The guidance was prompted by the discovery on May 12, 2025, that a train driver belonging to the company operated a train without properly conducting alcohol breath tests using an alcohol detector before and after duty, as required by Article 11 of the Driver Handling Rules. An audit conducted on May 13, 2025, revealed deficiencies in the alcohol testing procedures and record-keeping, with multiple assistant conductors failing to perform alcohol tests on a specific driver but recording no alcohol detection, and the management department being unaware of the situation. The guidance instructs the company to ensure proper alcohol testing, accurate record-keeping, re-educate employees on alcohol safety and compliance, and establish a system for management to monitor on-site conditions. The company is required to report the measures taken by July 14, 2025. Failure to comply or to confirm safety management improvements may result in orders to improve business operations under the Railway Business Act. The legal basis for the order includes Article 23 of the Railway Business Act and related provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, recognizing that the company's conduct impairs transportation safety and public interest.