[JP] "Delays Mount for Linear Chūō Shinkansen: 18 Sections Won't Meet 2027 Deadline, Yamanashi Station Delayed to 2031
Posted: 5. Jan 2025, 22:12
Delays Mount for Linear Chūō Shinkansen: 18 Sections Won't Meet 2027 Deadline, Yamanashi Station Delayed to 2031
The construction of the Linear Chūō Shinkansen between Shinagawa and Nagoya is facing significant delays, with 18 construction sections now confirmed to extend beyond the original target completion date of 2027. This was revealed in an interview with JR Central. The delay is mainly due to challenges in securing land and labor, prolonged tunnel excavations, and other factors such as the ongoing lack of understanding from Shizuoka Prefecture, which has led to delays in starting the South Alps Tunnel construction.
The project, which divides the 286-kilometer route into 83 construction zones, has faced unforeseen difficulties in 18 of these zones, with the completion of each delayed beyond 2027. The situation could worsen as more sections are yet to be fully analyzed, and some areas remain undecided on how they will be divided into construction zones.
One example is the Fūkesan Tunnel in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, where excavation work using a shield machine is now scheduled to begin in the winter of 2028. The delay is attributed to the slow progress in setting up the necessary facilities for machinery storage, hampered by ongoing cultural heritage surveys. There are also significant uncertainties about when other tunnels and related infrastructure might be completed.
As of now, JR Central has not been able to provide a clear timeline for many of the affected sections, leading to criticism about the overly optimistic original projections. Many observers argue that the initial expectation of a 2027 opening was unrealistic given the complications that have arisen in several regions along the route.
Moreover, the delay is not limited to the Shizuoka Prefecture section but extends across multiple other zones, with difficulties in procuring land and securing skilled labor also causing further setbacks. This has led to growing skepticism regarding whether the ambitious timeline for the high-speed rail line can be met at all.
In particular, the completion of the Yamanashi Prefecture station, a key stop along the route, has been delayed and is now expected to be finished by 2031, marking another significant departure from the original schedule. As the situation stands, it seems increasingly likely that the much-anticipated opening of the Chūō Shinkansen will be postponed well beyond the originally set target.
Info based on: https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/377325 Accessed 05-01-2025
The construction of the Linear Chūō Shinkansen between Shinagawa and Nagoya is facing significant delays, with 18 construction sections now confirmed to extend beyond the original target completion date of 2027. This was revealed in an interview with JR Central. The delay is mainly due to challenges in securing land and labor, prolonged tunnel excavations, and other factors such as the ongoing lack of understanding from Shizuoka Prefecture, which has led to delays in starting the South Alps Tunnel construction.
The project, which divides the 286-kilometer route into 83 construction zones, has faced unforeseen difficulties in 18 of these zones, with the completion of each delayed beyond 2027. The situation could worsen as more sections are yet to be fully analyzed, and some areas remain undecided on how they will be divided into construction zones.
One example is the Fūkesan Tunnel in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, where excavation work using a shield machine is now scheduled to begin in the winter of 2028. The delay is attributed to the slow progress in setting up the necessary facilities for machinery storage, hampered by ongoing cultural heritage surveys. There are also significant uncertainties about when other tunnels and related infrastructure might be completed.
As of now, JR Central has not been able to provide a clear timeline for many of the affected sections, leading to criticism about the overly optimistic original projections. Many observers argue that the initial expectation of a 2027 opening was unrealistic given the complications that have arisen in several regions along the route.
Moreover, the delay is not limited to the Shizuoka Prefecture section but extends across multiple other zones, with difficulties in procuring land and securing skilled labor also causing further setbacks. This has led to growing skepticism regarding whether the ambitious timeline for the high-speed rail line can be met at all.
In particular, the completion of the Yamanashi Prefecture station, a key stop along the route, has been delayed and is now expected to be finished by 2031, marking another significant departure from the original schedule. As the situation stands, it seems increasingly likely that the much-anticipated opening of the Chūō Shinkansen will be postponed well beyond the originally set target.
Info based on: https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/377325 Accessed 05-01-2025