Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2013 October 16 - 22 [ENVIRONMENT]

Quake could destroy tunnels for linear motor Shinkansen

A major earthquake could destroy the tunnels for linear motor Shinkansen trains, a geoecology expert has pointed out.

Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), operator of a new bullet train line called Chuo Shinkansen using maglev technology, plans to begin the construction of the new Shinkansen line next April. The railway company last month released a preparatory document for the environmental impact assessment, which includes details of the proposed Shinkansen route between Tokyo and Nagoya.

A citizens group in Kanagawa’s Sagamihara City where the proposed route passes through held a gathering on October 14 to study possible problems related to the planned construction of the new bullet train line with 80 people participating.

In the gathering, Tsujimura Chihiro of the Nature Conservation Society of Japan stated that a major quake could damage tunnels for maglev trains because JR Central proposes establishing the route through the Akaishi Mountains, also known as the Japanese Southern Alps, where active faults run beneath the mountains.

“No one can guarantee that active faults will remain motionless when a major quake occurs. People’s lives will be put at risk. The railway company should reconsider the construction plan,” said Tsujimura.

Civil group representative Asaga Kimie said that the new Shinkansen operator has held a series of meetings to explain about the preparatory documents to residents of municipalities that the new train service will cover. She said, “JR Central in the meetings gave no convincing answers to residents’ concerns over safety. With this study meeting as the starting point, let’s raise our voices to increase public awareness of the need to question whether the new Shinkansen line is necessary or not.”

Obata Hajime, representative of another local group in Sagamihara City, has brought up questions about the construction plan from the standpoint of local development.

Obata pointed out that in Sagamihara’s Hashimoto district which will host an underground station of the Chuo Shinkansen line, construction work for the station could create heavy traffic congestion, increase the risk of traffic accidents, and cause air and noise pollution. He also said that residents and shops in areas surrounding the planned construction site will have to move.

The Sagamihara City office is claiming that when the linear Shinkansen station opens, more and more people and companies will come to the city. It plans to spend 207 billion yen in tax money to provide incentives for businesses to move there.

JR Central in the preparatory document estimates that the new Shinkansen station will have a daily ridership of 10,000 people at a maximum. Meanwhile, the existing local line Hashimoto Station located near the planned new station site is handling about 200,000 passengers a day.

Obata criticized the city government plan for leading to deficit spending and a collapse of the city budget.

Past related articles:
> Petition drive opposing maglev railway construction attracts public attention [January 31, 2013]
> JCP Shii calls for halt to construction of maglev Shinkansen system [May 18, 2012]
> Citizens point out excessive power-consuming linear motor Shinkansen plan is ‘outdated' [Apr 25, 2012]
> Residents demand reconsideration of plan to build linear motor Shinkansen [Apr 13, 2012]