Collision and derailment of maintenance trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line; operations between Hamamatsu and Nagoya still suspended (Update 2)

Tokaido Shinkansen service between Tokyo and Nagoya stations was suspended on Monday due to the derailment of two maintenance trains in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture. Service between Hamamatsu and Nagoya stations was still suspended as of 11 a.m. Restoration work is expected to continue into the evening, and it is not clear when full service will resume.

According to Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), at around 3:35 a.m., a maintenance train collided with another that was standing on the tracks after completing track work between Toyohashi and Mikawa-Anjo stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, causing the two trains to derail. A male train conductor suffered a minor cut on his forehead and another worker suffered a bruise on his leg.

At the site, the tracks and derailed trains were inspected, the sleepers were replaced and other restoration work was carried out. According to JR Tokai, the trains are being transported using a crane as they cannot move under their own power. Oil leaks were also discovered at the site, delaying the restoration work.

In parallel with the inspection of JR Tokai, the Aichi Prefectural Police are planning their own on-site inspection as part of a more comprehensive investigation into the incident. The suspicion is that negligent professional conduct leading to personal injury.