Typhoon-hit Hokuriku Shinkansen services resume between Tokyo, Kanazawa

Typhoon-hit Hokuriku Shinkansen services resume between Tokyo, Kanazawa
Published 26 October 2019

 

NAGANO, Japan (The Japan News/ANN)- The Hokuriku Shinkansen line’s direct train services resumed along the whole route between Tokyo and Kanazawa on Friday morning, 13 days after services on part of the route were suspended because of Typhoon No. 19.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen line’s direct train services resumed along the whole route between Tokyo and Kanazawa on Friday morning, 13 days after services on part of the route were suspended because of Typhoon No. 19.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen tracks and depot in Nagano were inundated by the Chikumagawa river. As many as 120 cars, or 10 bullet trains, at the depot — one-third of all the Hokuriku Shinkansen trains — were partially submerged, forcing East Japan Railway Co. to suspend services between Nagano and Joetsu-Myoko to inspect equipment and make recovery efforts.

The train timetable following restart of the services shows that Kagayaki, the bullet train that travels between Tokyo and Kanazawa at the fastest time of 2½ hours, resumed 90 percent of its service. Hakutaka, the bullet train that stops at most stations along the line, has returned to regular service.

Both Tokyo and Kanazawa stations were crowded Friday with tourists and company employees on business trips.