The Kyushu Railway Company (九州旅客鉄道株式会社, Kyūshū Ryokaku Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha?), also referred to as JR Kyushu (JR九州, Jeiāru Kyūshū?), is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates intercity rail services in Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strait between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea.
When Japan Railways was divided in 1987, Kyushu Railway Company was in deficit under recession of Japanese steel industry and competition from highways and air flights. Yet the company then diversified its business, especially in developing and commercializing its properties (such as train stations).
JR Kyushu's headquarters are in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka.
The company introduced SUGOCA, a smart card ticketing system, from March 1, 2009.
Read more about Kyushu Railway Company: Limited Express and Tourist Train Services
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