Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 25 - May 8 TOP3 [ENVIRONMENT]

Citizens point out excessive power-consuming linear motor Shinkansen plan is ‘outdated'

Residents argued on April 24 that a plan to construct a linear motor rail system, the Chuo Shinkansen, is behind the times as the system consumes three times more electricity than conventional high speed rail lines in their petition to the Kanagawa governor.

They are members of a citizens’ group of Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture, and are urging the governor to reconsider the plan to build a new bullet train line using maglev technology.

Their petition also pointed out that the project shows an overly optimistic outlook regarding profit ability.

Asaga Kimie, representative of the group, questioned the necessity of pouring as much as 9 trillion yen in tax revenues into the construction project. She said, “The municipality should disclose detailed information and discuss the issue taking in the viewpoints of citizens.”

Other participants said to the authorities, “How do you plan to dispose the huge amount of earth that will be dug out to create a tunnel?” and “We are worrying that the construction may dry up the groundwater supply.”