[JP] Maglev 2037 opening? Parallel construction said to be "impossible"

[Miss Maglev]

JR Tokai's president, Shunsuke Niwa, declared in a press conference on August 8th that it is "impossible" to carry out parallel construction of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen line between Tokyo (Shinagawa) and Nagoya, and between Nagoya and Osaka, considering financial and construction capabilities. The Japanese government supports the earliest possible completion of the entire line by 2037. JR Tokai aims for early completion while maintaining its current construction policy.

Initially, JR Tokai planned to open the Shinagawa-Nagoya section in 2027, then proceed with the Nagoya-Osaka section to open the entire line by 2045. The plan was revised with the government’s support, utilizing a 3 trillion yen low-interest loan to potentially advance the timeline by up to eight years.

In March, JR Tokai abandoned the 2027 opening of the Shinagawa-Nagoya section due to delays in the Shizuoka segment, which will take at least 10 years to complete, pushing the opening to 2034 or later. Consequently, the timeline for the entire line’s opening was also affected.

The government reaffirmed its 2037 goal in June's basic economic and fiscal policy. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his support for JR Tokai during a site inspection in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture, on July 31.

JR Tokai estimated that construction between Nagoya and Osaka would take 10 years. To meet the 2037 goal, simultaneous construction with the eastern segment would be necessary. Niwa reiterated on August 8th that focusing on the Shinagawa-Nagoya construction is crucial for opening the entire line to Osaka.

Info based on Japanese Media news. Source: https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOFD ... 0C2000000/ Accessed 2024-08-08