The linear train will connect Shinagawa and Nagoya in about 40 minutes at the fastest. It is expected that the linear train will connect Shinagawa and Iida in about 46 minutes and Iida and Nagoya in about 24 minutes, even if it stops at every station. The time required between Iida and Tokyo or Nagoya will be reduced dramatically. In addition to an increase in the number of people who visit Iida for tourism and business purposes, it is also expected to bring an influx of people to
Iida City, which is surrounded by nature, and to increase the location of industries. The city expects that access time to Chubu International Airport and Haneda Airport will be shortened through the linear route, which will increase traffic to and from overseas.
When the groundbreaking ceremony for the Linear Southern Alps Tunnel was held in Oshika Village near Iida City on November 1, 2016, one could hear people all over the city expressing their hopes for the Linear project. Six years have passed since then, however,
and the face of the city seems to have changed somewhat.
On December 22, 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a tentatively named Linear Nagano Station at the planned construction site in Iida City. Many construction workers visited the city, and restaurants were busy until late at night. The civil engineering work will be completed by the end of March 2026. The economic effects of the construction work are also expected.
The linear route in Iida City intersects with the JR Iida Line, and Nagano Station will be built at its western end, almost touching the JR Iida Line. The nearest station is Moto Zenkoji Station, which is about 1 km away from the new Nagano Station. In order to facilitate connections with the Linear Line, the city initially had a plan to build a new station on the Iida Line, at local expense, that could be used to transfer to the new Nagano Station.
However,
the idea of a new station disappeared in the October 2020 mayoral election when Ken Sato, who pledged not to build a new transfer station, won the election over the incumbent mayor, who was in favor of the idea. The reason for this was that few people would use the new station, despite the financial burden it would impose. It was thought that some local residents still wanted a new transfer station, but Mayor Sato said, "I hardly hear anything about a new station now. I think many people understand the situation," he said. This statement is based on the fact that he was elected by a large margin over the incumbent, who had pledged to install a new transfer station.
Instead of a new transfer station, Mayor Sato is considering a new transportation system that would connect the new linear train station with the former Zenkoji temple. Various means are being considered, including automated shuttle buses. Right now we are in the stage of considering what kind of system is possible," he said. We would like to build a network that makes good use of various technologies," he said.
The fact that
the opening date of the Maglev line has not been decided also casts a shadow over another major issue. Approximately 190 households will be
forced to relocate due to the acquisition of land for the station and surrounding plaza. Some households have already decided to relocate, but others are refusing to move because they have not been able to reach an agreement on the amount of compensation and other issues. Mayor Sato said, "There is a feeling among residents that why should they move now when the opening of the new station is likely to be delayed? The people who have already decided to move out of their homes must feel ashamed to say that they could have continued to live in the area for a little longer.
Iida City is probably not the only case where delays in construction have had a negative impact on the urban development plans of municipalities along the Linear Line and the sentiments of local residents.
Info based on Japanese News:
https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/645627 Accessed: 2023-01-16