since 1974. Demand for rail transport improved, although it still accounted for only 28% of passenger transportation and only 5% of cargo transportation in 1990. Rail passenger transportation was superior to automobiles in terms of energy efficiency and of speed in long distance transportation. The six companies had of routes (mostly gauge) in use in the late 1980s. About 25% of the routes were in double-track and multitrack sections, and the rest were single-track. In 1988 about 51% of the six companies' 1,000 locomotives were diesel, and the rest were electric. Japan Freight Railway Company owns its locomotives (295 diesel and 569 electric locomotives in 1988), rolling stock, stations and Intermodal container, but hires track from the six passenger companies. It runs fewer trains on less track than Japanese National Railways freight service did before its demise, but at increased revenues and higher productivity. The leased Shinkansen railway facilities, including of gauge high-speed track, to the passenger companies on Honshū. In 1991, the SPC was reorganized into the and the three operators bought their lines on 60-year loans. Some of the Shinkansen electric-powered trains operate at speeds up to 300 km/h. Another nearly of routes are operated by major private railways and by what are known in Japan as third sector railways—new companies, financed with private and local government funds—which often (not always) absorbed some of Japanese National Railways' rural lines. There were twenty-seven private and third-sector companies in 1989. Unions Various unions represent workers at the different JR Group companies, such as the National Railway Workers' Union, All Japan Construction, Transport and General Workers' Union, Doro-Chiba, and the Japan Confederation of Railway Workers' Unions. See also Rail transport in Japan List of railway companies in Japan Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification SoftBank Telecom – former Japan Telecom, an affiliated company of JNR established in 1984 References - Japan External links Hisakyu's Railway Guide JR's Rule on Passenger Tickets 1067 mm gauge railways in Japan Standard gauge railways in Japan Conglomerate companies of Japan Japanese brands