Japan Shinkansen bullet trains faced a rare incident on Thursday morning when two cars decoupled while traveling between Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. The incident has raised concerns over safety, and officials are now investigating.
JR East said the Hayabusa and Komachi trains, linked on the Tohoku Shinkansen line, separated at around 11:30 a.m. while traveling between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Omiya Station in Saitama. When the decoupling happened, the trains’ automatic brakes activated and brought them safely to a stop.
No passengers or staff were injured. However, the disruption forced temporary suspensions and caused delays across the busy Tohoku Shinkansen line, which connects Tokyo with northern Japan.
Passengers heading to Akita and Yamagata had to transfer at Morioka Station and Fukushima Station. JR East issued updates throughout the day and arranged alternative connections.
Japan’s Transport Safety Board classified the case as a serious incident that could have led to a major accident. Investigators will now check the coupling system, safety protocols, and maintenance records of the Shinkansen fleet.
Although such malfunctions are rare, JR East stressed its commitment to safety and promised to find the cause quickly. The operator also apologized for the disruption, which affected thousands of passengers during a busy weekday morning.
Japan’s Shinkansen network is praised worldwide for its speed, punctuality, and safety. This incident, however, shows that even advanced systems must remain prepared for unexpected risks.
(Ref. NHK WORLD-JAPAN)
