JR West executives bow to residents of condominium struck by the train in the derailment June 5.

Most of the residents have moved out since the crash, which claimed the lives of 107 people aboard the seven-car JR West train on the Fukuchiyama Line when it jumped the tracks and slammed into the building's ground-level parking garage.

JR West has offered to buy all 47 units at their original purchase price, while the residents say the railway should pay more because similar condominiums in the area are not available for that price today.

On June 5, JR West held a briefing at a hotel to inform residents of the company's compensation plans. But no agreement was reached during the two-hour session.

The condominium building was completed in November 2002 with prices ranging from ¥18 million to ¥27 million per unit. The residents said the condominiums sold for a relatively affordable price because the building was a bit far from the nearest train station.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 11, 2005
(C) All rights reserved