Opening of JR Maglev to be Delayed to 2029 or later

[Miss Maglev]

Opening of JR Maglev to be Delayed to 2029 or Later　

A panel of experts from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) compiled an interim report on December 19 regarding the construction of the Shizuoka section of the Linear Central Shinkansen line, which has been postponed due to Shizuoka Prefecture's concerns about the declining flow of the Oi River. It said that the flow rate can be maintained with appropriate measures and called on JR Tokai to communicate fully with the local community. The prefectural government is dissatisfied with the report and plans to continue discussions with JR Tokai, which has already delayed construction work for a year and a half to open in 2027. The construction work is already a year and a half behind schedule and will inevitably take place in 2029 or later.

Translated form Japanese Media https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/149986 Accessed: 2021-12-20

[Eurorapid]

The transport ministry will soon issue an administrative guidance to Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) calling for close dialogue with Shizuoka Prefecture over a local section of the long-awaited magnetic levitation rail project.

It is unusual for the ministry to issue such a directive to a business operator that has not broken any laws.

The new maglev train line is a major controversy in the prefecture amid concerns over how it could affect the environment and local water resources.
[...] JR Tokai initially planned to have the Chuo Shinkansen Line in operation between the capital’s Shinagawa Station and Nagoya Station in 2027. But Shizuoka Prefecture is refusing to allow construction of the Shizuoka section, the only portion for which work has yet to start.

[...]

The panel’s interim report concluded water levels would remain unchanged in the middle and lower reaches of the river if all the water that gushes out from underground due to the construction work is put back into the river. It determined that an abundant source of groundwater in the mountain can supplement any water that is lost, some of which Shizuoka Prefecture fears could flow into neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture during the construction work. [...] However, the panel added that its assessment is still not certain. It urged the railway operator to monitor the groundwater to deal with an eventuality if water were to suddenly begin to gush out, and make the data public to ensure transparency.

In response to the panel’s report, transport minister Tetsuo Saito plans to meet with Shin Kaneko, the JR Tokai president, on Dec. 21 to instruct the railway operator to respect the feelings of local residents and officials when proceeding with the project.

[...] Shizuoka Vice Governor Takashi Namba [...] urged JR Tokai to provide a thorough explanation because locals have “little trust” in the railway operator.

[...]

It is still unclear when JR Tokai can start operating the Chuo Shinkansen Line.

Article was written by Masanori Isobe, Susumu Imaizumi and Shinya Takagi in THE ASAHI SHIMBUN https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14506299 Accessed 2021-12-20

[Miss Maglev]

2021-12-21_JR Tokai

1000074118_20211221210004_m[1].jpg (21.62 KiB) Viewed 2270 times

.
Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/shutoken-news/20 ... 74118.html Accessed 2021-12-21

On December 21, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito met with JR Tokai President Shin Kaneko and instructed him to take action to alleviate the concerns of local residents based on the interim report compiled by a national expert panel.
[...]
Regarding the "Linear Central Shinkansen," which is being constructed by JR Tokai, Shizuoka Prefecture has refused to allow construction to begin in the prefecture, citing concerns that the underground tunneling work will reduce the volume of water in the Oi River and have other negative effects.
In this context, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's expert panel compiled an interim report on April 19, stating that the volume of water in the middle and lower reaches of the Oi River can be maintained if a pathway is created for the underground water that gushes out of the tunnel and the entire volume is returned to the Oi River.
In response to this report, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Mr. Saito met with Mr. Shin Kaneko, President of JR Tokai, at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on the afternoon of the 21st.
During the meeting, Mr. Saito stated that "it is most essential to obtain the understanding and cooperation of the local community," and verbally instructed Mr. Kaneko to address the risks associated with the tunnel construction, to conduct monitoring, and to sincerely respond to the concerns of the local residents.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/shutoken-news/20 ... 74118.html Accessed 2021-12-21
.

[Eurorapid]

"No timetable for the opening of the JR Maglev" says JR Tokai president.

2021-12-22 JR Tokai president

K10013399551_2112221823_2112221857_01_03[1].jpg (22.02 KiB) Viewed 2256 times

Source: NHK https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/202112 ... 51000.html Accessed: 2021-12-22

At a press conference on December 22, JR Tokai President Shin Kaneko said, "At this point, we don't have a timetable for the start of construction," and expressed his desire to communicate with Shizuoka Prefecture and local governments in the basin to gain their understanding of the project.
"The reason why it is difficult to start operations in 2027 is because construction has not started in Shizuoka, and it is difficult to say because of the overall restrictions. [...] I think once that is cleared up, we will be able to talk about it in an organized manner.

Source: NHK https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/202112 ... 51000.html Accessed: 2021-12-22