Slow-moving Typhoon Shanshan, also known as Typhoon No. 10, caused widespread devastation in late August as it unexpectedly changed direction, posing challenges for train operators, including the Shinkansen bullet train operators, in deciding whether to suspend or cancel services.
This year marks a decade since planned service suspensions became the norm for train operators. However, companies are still grappling with how to efficiently implement these measures as typhoon season extends into autumn.
Shunsuke Niwa, the president of Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), explained at a press conference on September 4 that it was difficult to predict the typhoon’s path due to frequent changes. Initially expected to make landfall between the Kinki and Kanto regions, JR Tokai and West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) services were heavily impacted.
On August 23, JR West announced the possibility of canceling Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train services on August 27 and 28. However, they subsequently revised the cancellation schedule multiple times before finally carrying out cancellations on August 29 and 30. Services between Hiroshima and Hakata stations were canceled for the entire day on August 30.
JR Tokai also made several changes to its cancellation schedule. The planned cancellations of Tokaido Shinkansen services took place from August 30 through September 1. This marked the first time in a decade that services between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations were suspended for three days.
In response to hastily decided cancellations between Tokyo and Mishima stations on the morning of August 30, a visibly upset German man expressed his confusion at JR Tokyo Station.
Train operators decide to suspend services before wind speed and rainfall reach regulatory limits due to typhoons or other factors. Planned service cancellations aim to inform passengers in advance for safety reasons and minimize disruptions.
The concept of planned service cancellations gained attention when Typhoon Vongfong hit the Kinki region on October 13, 2014. The day before its arrival, JR West announced cancellation of all non-Shinkansen services in six prefectures within that region.
During Typhoon Trami in September 2018, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) implemented planned service cancellations across its network except for Shinkansen services in Tokyo metropolitan area; however some disruptions occurred due to short notice announcements made only eight hours prior.
To address this issue, guidelines were established by Land Infrastructure Transport Ministry advising train operators to announce potential service cancellations at least forty-eight hours beforehand with detailed information provided twenty-four hours prior.
JR companies are taking measures such as reinforcing track beds when natural disasters like approaching typhoons occur.
Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains are known not perform well under heavy rain conditions; therefore JR Tokai plans reinforcement work particularly focusing on track beds which consist forty-four percent earth material – highest among all Shinkansen lines.
When rainwater seeps into these earthen track beds they become loose leading instability; if foundation crumbles it can result buckling tracks or worst-case scenario derailment.
Reinforcing slopes of track beds is being considered by JR Tokai improve drainage functions.
Professor Makoto Okumura from Tohoku University’s International Research Institute of Disaster Science emphasized that society has become more accepting of planned service cancellations after experiencing unexpected travel disruptions during pandemic period; he stressed importance understanding these measures benefit passengers too
