According to JR Central, at around 3:30 a.m. on the 22nd, a maintenance vehicle on the Tokaido Shinkansen collided with another maintenance vehicle in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, causing it to derail. As a result, Tokaido Shinkansen service has been suspended on both inbound and outbound lines between Hamamatsu Station and Nagoya Station. JR Central announced that it will take a considerable amount of time to restore service, and that there is no prospect of it resuming. Around 3:30 a.m. on the 22nd, a maintenance vehicle collided with another maintenance vehicle in front of it on the inbound line of the Tokaido Shinkansen in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, causing it to derail. As a result, Tokaido Shinkansen service has been suspended on both inbound and outbound lines between Hamamatsu Station and Nagoya Station. JR Central initially said that service would resume no earlier than noon, but announced that it would take a considerable amount of time to restore service because the maintenance vehicles cannot run on their own, and that there is no prospect of service resuming.
According to Gamagori Police Station, a maintenance vehicle derailed, and although there is information that several people were injured, all of them were only slightly injured, the details of the situation are unknown.
According to the fire department, there was a report that two maintenance vehicles had come into contact with each other and injured people, and one male worker in his 40s was taken to hospital with injuries that are believed to be minor.
At the accident site At the accident site in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, at around 8 a.m., more than four hours after the accident, several cars were parked on the Shinkansen tracks, and some of the cars remained derailed.
In addition, dozens of workers gathered around the derailed cars, working to restore the trains, such as tying ropes around the wheels.
Nagoya Station Crowded with passengers JR Nagoya Station was crowded with many passengers following the suspension of Shinkansen service. A company employee in his 50s who was planning to go on a business trip to Tokyo said, “I was planning to leave early in the morning to go to Mitaka in Tokyo on a business trip. When I arrived at 6:30, the announcement was made that the service was suspended. I think I have no choice but to wait.”
A company employee in his 20s who was also planning to go on a business trip to Tokyo said, “I heard that the service would resume after noon, so I searched for buses to be faster, but they were already full. I’m going to be tired from Monday.”
Long line at ticket counter at Shin-Osaka Station
This has caused confusion at Shin-Osaka Station. In front of the Shinkansen ticket gates at Shin-Osaka Station, people who can no longer head towards Tokyo were staring at bulletin boards and smartphones showing the service schedule.
It was announced that the service would resume at the earliest after noon, and a long line formed at the ticket counter.
A man in his 40s who was on his way to work said, “The announcement was made at noon at the earliest, but I’m confused. For the time being, my planned meeting has been canceled.”
A man in his 40s who was planning to go to his parents’ home in Aichi Prefecture with his child for a visit said, “I wonder what I should do from now on. I’m thinking about going back home for a while.”
A woman in her 40s who was planning to go on a business trip to Tokyo said, “I’m worried about what will happen, but I’ll discuss it with the person I’m going with. This is the first time I’ve ever experienced something like this, so I’m surprised.”
Many people on the premises at Tokyo Station
In front of the ticket gates for the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, a sign was posted informing people that service had been suspended, and many people on the premises stopped to check the latest operating status and ask station staff about the outlook for the resumption of service.
A man in his 60s heading to Kyoto for work said, “I have a meeting at 1 p.m. I’m really in trouble. I’ll think about what to do.”
A man who was returning to Nagoya said, “I’ll contact my company now. There’s no other way, but I want to go home soon.”
>>2 In the live footage, the impact of the collision caused the train to derail. It appears to be partially crushed, so it’s unclear whether it will be able to continue running even if it’s put back on track.
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