[JP] Chuo Shinkansen at a Crossroads: Kansai Urged to Decide Route

[latestnews]

Maglev Momentum: Furuya Pushes for Fast-Track Decisions on Chuo Shinkansen

Keiji Furuya, former National Public Safety Commission Chairman and head of the LDP’s maglev committee, underscored the strategic significance of the Chuo Shinkansen maglev project. He highlighted two primary objectives: strengthening national resilience and advancing decentralization.

Japan’s existing Tokaido Shinkansen has aged considerably and runs along the coastline, making it highly vulnerable to major earthquakes in the Tokai region. A prolonged disruption would cause severe economic damage. Establishing an inland maglev route offers critical redundancy, enabling rapid recovery and ensuring continuity of transport and economic functions. The project also aligns with the national vision of a decentralized, distributed society. Planned stations in Sagamihara, Kofu, Iida, and Nakatsugawa will serve as new regional hubs, attracting corporate headquarters, research institutions, and supporting population retention and local tax revenue growth. These developments aim to restore balance to Japan’s economic structure.

While the line is scheduled to open after 2034, significant progress has been achieved on the main obstacle: the Shizuoka section. With Governor Yasutomo Suzuki taking office in May 2024, solutions for 28 outstanding issues have emerged, paving the way for core construction to proceed.

However, the segment west of Nagoya remains undecided. Without agreement on routes and stations, planning and construction cannot start. Furuya urged the Kansai business community to reach consensus quickly, stressing the need to “set aside minor differences for the greater good.”

Once operational, the Tokaido Shinkansen is expected to assume a secondary role, potentially enabling new stations, such as one near Shizuoka Airport, to improve connectivity.

Info based on https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20250725-OYT1T50082/ Accessed 2025-07-26

[Parrahub1]

Looks like the Calafornia joke where nobody can agree on anything.