(Maglev) Chūō Shinkansen Discussion and Construction Updates.

[Jozhua]

Japan is currently constructing/developing it's maglev technology with the Chuo Shinkansen line. This is being built by JR central and is planned to initially connect Tokyo and Nagoya by 2027, with connections to Osaka expected to be completed by 2045, although this may be as soon as 2037 with the approval of government loans.

Currently construction-wise I am aware of a 48.2km (26.6 mile) test track, which appears to have been constructed deliberately halfway through the planned route, so this track will be utilised as part of the full line. In total, the line between Tokyo and Nagoya will be 285.6km (177.5 miles). Construction on the route, beyond the test track, began in 2014.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chūō_Shinkansen

The Chuo Shinkansen (中央新幹線, Chūō Shinkansen) is a Japanese maglev line under construction between Tokyo and Nagoya, with plans for extension to Osaka.

This site has a construction status update map, trying to figure out how it works though!

https://scmaglev.jr-central-global.com/status/

Interesting .pdf on the JR central site:

https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/company/_pdf/superconducting_maglev.pdf

 

[Shinkansenfan]

Even though over 80% of the route will be in tunnel, I can’t wait to ride it! And 7 years is not that far off.

40 minutes from Shinagawa to Nagoya will transform travel between that city pair.

However I’m not counting on being able use a Japan Railpass on that service given that the Nozomi trains are off limits to pass holders.

 

[Jozhua]

Even though over 80% of the route will be in tunnel, I can’t wait to ride it! And 7 years is not that far off.

40 minutes from Shinagawa to Nagoya will transform travel between that city pair.

However I’m not counting on being able use a Japan Railpass on that service given that the Nozomi trains are off limits to pass holders.

Post a video of your experience if I don't get to ride it immediately, hopefully in 7 years the forum will be up (and perhaps this thread), so you can document your experience!

 

[WideRanger]

I have ridden the test section. Not a lot to see (only about 15 seconds out of tunnel). Acceleration felt like an Airbus A380 taking off. smooth, but rapid acceleration. Definitely pushed back into the seat.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

Oh dear.

Central Japan Railway Co. is expected to delay its planned opening in 2027 of a high-speed maglev train line between Tokyo and Nagoya, sources said Friday, after a local governor did not approve the start of preparatory construction work, citing environmental concerns.

The failure to overcome local opposition is making it difficult for the railway, also known as JR Central, to achieve its target year for operations of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, which will have a top speed of 500 kilometers per hour.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/27/business/corporate-business/jr-central-shizuoka-maglev/

Here's another article.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200626/p2g/00m/0na/084000c

The local governor is from Shizouka Prefecture, where the proposed maglev line cuts across the panhandle of that prefecture-- just a small sliver of that prefecture.

This article has a map of the line.
https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/japan-by-rail/travel-tips/maglev-tokyo-osaka

 

[Beebman]

Update from NHK World on the problems in Shizouka Prefecture:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200703_23/

Shizuoka refuses to allow maglev train work

It's increasingly likely that a super-fast, magnetically levitated train service in Japan will not start as planned. A local government has refused to approve preparatory work to build a tunnel.
Shizuoka Prefecture has not approved the tunnel project, citing a possible impact on local water resources.
On Friday, the prefecture once again refused in a letter sent to the Central Japan Railway Company, also known as JR Tokai.
The company had asked for an explanation after Shizuoka Governor Kawakatsu Heita told the president of JR Tokai last week that he will not allow preparatory work to start because it's part of the main construction project.
The prefecture said in the letter that a deal to protect the environment needs to be signed before preparatory work can begin.
It also said an expert panel of the central government is discussing how the tunnel project would affect the environment, and no protective measures have been decided. The prefecture added that its conditions have not been met to sign such an agreement.
Construction of a maglev train route linking Tokyo and the central city of Nagoya has started on some parts of the route. But the tunnel project in Shizuoka is behind schedule.
JR Tokai says tunnel construction must start immediately to launch the maglev train service in 2027, as planned.

 

[Jozhua]

I have ridden the test section. Not a lot to see (only about 15 seconds out of tunnel). Acceleration felt like an Airbus A380 taking off. smooth, but rapid acceleration. Definitely pushed back into the seat.

Oh, awesome!

How did you get into doing that?

How sizeable was the cabin, smaller or bigger than the average shinkanzen?

Does it have loos or any other facilities?

Is it easy to walk/stand once moving?

Considering the acceleration is like an aircraft on takeoff, will passengers be required to sit before departure?

Oh dear.

Central Japan Railway Co. is expected to delay its planned opening in 2027 of a high-speed maglev train line between Tokyo and Nagoya, sources said Friday, after a local governor did not approve the start of preparatory construction work, citing environmental concerns.

The failure to overcome local opposition is making it difficult for the railway, also known as JR Central, to achieve its target year for operations of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, which will have a top speed of 500 kilometers per hour.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/27/business/corporate-business/jr-central-shizuoka-maglev/

Here's another article.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200626/p2g/00m/0na/084000c

The local governor is from Shizouka Prefecture, where the proposed maglev line cuts across the panhandle of that prefecture-- just a small sliver of that prefecture.

This article has a map of the line.
https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/japan-by-rail/travel-tips/maglev-tokyo-osaka

NIMBYS!!!

If it's only a small bit of the prefecture they're planning to go through, can they divert the route around?

 

[WideRanger]

Oh, awesome!

How did you get into doing that?

How sizeable was the cabin, smaller or bigger than the average shinkanzen?

Does it have loos or any other facilities?

Is it easy to walk/stand once moving?

Considering the acceleration is like an aircraft on takeoff, will passengers be required to sit before departure?

I used to do a job in Japan in which I worked regularly with the JR companies. I also got a Shinkansen cab ride, tours around the signalling centres, and a visit to the Odakyu tunnels as they were being dug out.

The cab interior felt remarkably like a standard Shinkansen interior (fake wood panelling, etc), albeit a bit smaller.

The test train didn't have any loo as far as I know. Each journey on the test track only lasted about 10 minutes.

We weren't allowed to stand during the test runs - they ensured eveyone was seated before setting off.

 

[ainsworth74]

Thread re-opened

 

[Jozhua]

Got the thread re-opened, as it's a decent bet it'll be open for a few years!

This map should be tracking construction of the SCMaglev:
https://scmaglev.jr-central-global.com/status/

As you can see, the Yamanashi Line is in orange, as this is the 26.6 mile test track where SC Maglev has undergone development and proof of concept. The thick lines are a little confusing, they do not mean "construction complete", despite being the same colour as it, but rather refer to the fact that section of line is in tunnel.

Looks like most contracts have been obtained, however I am unsure what the situation in Shizuoka will do to the construction schedule, as the govenor who has opposed the project won re-election this year for the fourth time in a row citing concerns that the tunnel will significantly affect the levels of the Oigawa river.

https://www.ft.com/content/61aa944f-9f83-4097-8292-7d310e91f7c5

Because the tunnel slopes downwards to both exits, Shizuoka prefecture fears it will drain groundwater that would otherwise enter the Oi river. “We want them to pump the water back,” said Yasuhiro Oribe, director of environmental protection in the prefectural government

“The biggest problem is that this railway has no benefit for Shizuoka prefecture. For them, it’s a risk without a return,” said Naoki Osaka, a reporter for Toyo Keizai magazine who has been following the dispute. Whereas every other prefecture on the route will get a station, connecting it to Tokyo and Osaka in minutes, Shizuoka will get nothing. What is more, the new maglev — known as the Chuo or Central Line — will bypass the existing Tokaido high-speed line, which runs along the coast through Shizuoka’s main cities and is also run by JR Central.

Mr Osaka has suggested that what Shizuoka would really like is a new station on the Tokaido line at its prefectural airport. But having pushed so hard on the environmental issue, and with a possible re-election campaign due next year, it would embarrass Mr Kawakatsu to cut a backroom deal. Since there is no other way to build the maglev, local observers think the prefecture will eventually give the go-ahead, but pressure is on JR Central.

Perhaps they will relent, but with tunneling estimated to take five years, any delay could seriously thwart the planned opening time.

 

[DerekC]

From memory (I saw a presentation of the technology about ten years ago) this is a pretty lousy concept made feasible by some very clever and complex technology to keep the air-gap constant. The train is levitated by magnetic attraction rather than repulsion as in the German designs. I can't help wondering why, on the day that the latest UN report on climate change is issued, we are still pursuing higher and higher speeds which demand higher and higher energy inputs per seat kilometre - "just because we can", I suppose. Maybe I am just a grumpy old git!

 

[LOL The Irony]

I can't help wondering why, on the day that the latest UN report on climate change is issued, we are still pursuing higher and higher speeds which demand higher and higher energy inputs per seat kilometre - "just because we can", I suppose.

Because it kills demand for regional air travel.

 

[DerekC]

Because it kills demand for regional air travel.

Not if the real costs of the maglev are plugged into the ticket price, I suspect.