Key facts
- Central Japan Railway and Shizuoka prefecture signed an agreement for the maglev line's Southern Alps Tunnel section.
- The agreement allows construction to begin on the 8.9-kilometer section after years of environmental concerns.
- JR Central must secure water equivalent to tunnel groundwater outflow and mitigate environmental impacts.
- The original 2027 opening target for the Tokyo-Nagoya leg has been abandoned.
Central Japan Railway (JR Central) has signed an agreement with Shizuoka prefecture, overcoming a significant obstacle to commencing construction on the final section of its high-speed magnetic-levitation train line between Tokyo and Nagoya. The agreement, made under the prefecture's natural environment conservation ordinance, addresses concerns over water usage and potential environmental impacts on the Southern Alps.
The roughly 8.9-kilometer section, part of the Southern Alps Tunnel, is the only portion of the line where construction had not yet started. The deal paves the way for work to potentially begin within the year, following years of opposition from the previous governor due to environmental worries.
Under the terms of the agreement, JR Central is required to secure an amount of water equivalent to the groundwater expected to flow out of the prefecture during tunnel construction. This includes measures such as restricting water intake at upstream dams on the Oi River. The company must also mitigate adverse effects on the natural environment of the Southern Alps and properly dispose of excavated soil, with provisions to halt construction if unexpected environmental damage occurs.
The Oi River is a critical water source for Shizuoka, supplying irrigation for its rice paddies and tea fields. The maglev line's first leg, from Tokyo's Shinagawa Station to Nagoya Station, was initially slated to open in 2027. However, JR Central conceded in March 2024 that this target would not be met due to the prolonged opposition, leaving the new opening date uncertain.