Tag Archives: Shinkansen

More delays are in store for the new Linear Shinkansen

Posted on by
JR Shinkansen | Photo: Fikri Rasyid



Construction for the new Linear Chuo Shinkansen has more hiccups as estimates for its completion gets pushed back to 2031 or later.

The construction project on the new Linear Chuo Shinkansen has been plagued by multiple setbacks and now it’s been announced that construction will likely be extended to 2031, a full 4 years longer than the original plan to open in 2027.

This comes on the heels of Shizuoka Prefecture Governor Heita Kawakatsu’s hesitation to allow construction along a narrow section through the prefecture. In lieu of essentially bring construction to a standstill in the region, Kawakatsu was quoted as saying he will be stepping down from his position after the June legislative season.

Photo: The Asia-Pacific Journal

The announcement of the extended construction period to 2031 has disappointed local residents, who have voiced concerns regarding a lack of explanation. The project’s stance on disclosing information to local residence has often been question. The longer construction is delayed, the more pressure will put on local residents; therefore, it is necessary to be as open as possible with information, including the nondisclosure of work-related accidents as well.

JR Tokai President Shunsuke Niwa stated, “A delay with starting construction in Shizuoka will directly lead to a delay in the opening in Nagoya.”

Once the new Chuo Shinkansen is completed, it will connect Tokyo with Osaka in a little over an hour traveling at a maximum speed of 314 mph (505 km/h).

▲ The trip on the current Shinkansen takes roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes.

▶︎ Related Links:

Opening date for the new linear Chuo Shinkansen delayed

Posted on by

Check it out! It’s the Shinkansen! The super-fast bullet trains in Japan! The new linear motor type currently under development has pushed back the opening date to a more ambiguous “2027 or later” tentative release window.

JR Tokai has revised the anticipated opening date of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, currently under construction, changing it from simply “2027” to “2027 or later” and has formally submitted this adjustment to the government. Shizuoka Prefecture has yet to grant approval to begin construction, expressing reservations related to tunnel construction impacting the water levels in the Oi River (map) as well as adversely affecting the ecosystem of the Southern Alps.

▲ The tentative opening date has been changed from “2027” to “2027 or later” as Shizuoka Prefecture holds up construction.

Despite JR Tokai’s ongoing construction efforts on the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, Shizuoka Prefecture has not granted the green light for construction to begin. The concerns primarily revolve around potential ramifications on the Oi River’s water levels and ecosystem of the Southern Alps.

“Residents along the planned route are meanwhile concerned by what happened about a century ago with the Tanna Tunnel project on the Tokaido line between Atami and Kannami in Shizuoka.

When construction work was launched on what was considered a major engineering challenge, huge amounts of water poured into the basin and seeped away, leaving nothing for agricultural needs.

Local farmers were paid compensation by the national government, but water did not return to the basin. The incident has never been forgotten locally, and there are concerns it might be repeated.”

Nikkei Asia
CBC News

Consequently, during a board meeting on the 14th, JR Tokai resolved to modify the opening date of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen section between Shinagawa and Nagoya, adjusting it from merely “2027” to the open-ended “2027 or later” projected date. The company promptly submitted this alteration to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism on the same day.

JR Tokai has attributed the need for this date adjustment to construction delays in Shizuoka Prefecture, asserting that meeting the original 2027 date would be challenging.

In the preceding month, Governor Kawakatsu of Shizuoka Prefecture expressed a willingness to endorse JR’s proposed measures addressing the Oi River’s water volume issue. However, he emphasized the need for continued evaluation by the prefecture’s specialized committee to confirm the feasibility of these measures.

Officials from JR Tokai have underscored the significance of Shizuoka Prefecture’s approval to begin construction, highlighting the difficulty of determining a new opening date without such endorsement. The focus is now on the outcome of ongoing negotiations between the two parties.

Thanks, NHK, Nikkei Asia, and CBC News.

New linear Shinkansen tunnel successfully reaches the surface

Posted on by

The first tunnel of the Linear Central Shinkansen, currently under construction in Yamanashi Prefecture and set to open in 2027, has emerged on the surface. This marks the initial tunnel opening on the main line section running from Shinagawa to Nagoya.

The tunnel, part of the Linear Central Shinkansen, has passed through the Daiichi Minamikoma Tunnel in Fujikawa, Yamanashi Prefecture. As heavy machinery, known as “breakers,” excavated the tunnel toward Nagoya, the inner wall gradually peeled away, creating holes that allowed light to penetrate the tunnel. Approximately 160 people gathered to celebrate this breakthrough.

This tunnel, with a total length of about 710 meters, a width of approximately 12.8 meters, and a height of 7.6 meters, has been under construction since March of last year, according to JR Tokai. This tunnel’s opening signifies the first time a main line tunnel, distinct from the experimental line, has connected with the Shinagawa-Nagoya section.

JR Tokai is targeting a 2027 opening for the Linear Central Shinkansen; however, Shizuoka Prefecture has not granted approval for construction due to concerns regarding potential impacts on water resources and the Southern Alps’ ecosystem.

Takashi Watanabe, director of the JR Tokai Central Shinkansen Yamanashi West Construction Office, expressed the desire to continue construction, striving to gain local community understanding by attentively addressing various concerns.

Yamanashi Governor of Nagasaki emphasized that the eagerly awaited expectations for the railway line would increase throughout its route, stating, “I’m very pleased that the line was able to open safely. It indicates that construction within the prefecture is progressing incrementally.”

Thanks, NHK.