AlwaysAisle

In Japanese it is Linear Chuo Shinkansen (リニア中央新幹線), in English it will be something like Maglev Shinkansen.

Back in October Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has approved the construction of Maglev Shinkansen proposed by JR Tokai. Construction will start in 2015 or later. First portion, Shinagawa – Nagoya is scheduled to start on 2027 and Nagoya – Osaka portion is scheduled to start on 2045.

This Maglev Shinkansen will use magnetic levitation technology and plan to run Shinagawa – Nagoya in 40 minutes with maximum speed of 500 km/hr. (310 mph). Shinagawa and Nagoya station for Maglev Shinkansen will be built underground, where route to Nagoya will go through Yamanashi and southern Nagano. 286 km between Shinagawa and Nagoya, where 247 km (86% of the route) will be in tunnel.

I am self-proclaimed train geek, but… 86% of the route is in tunnel… An hour and 36 minutes from Tokyo to Nagoya on current Nozomi with some view of ocean and possibly Mt. Fuji sounds good enough for me. I bet JR Pass will not be valid on Maglev Shinkansen.

railroadtycoon

Without the technical mumble jumble, a Linear Motor is used onboard the magnetic levitation train.

I guess names are always subject to change, so for the time being I guess it is just Linear Chuo Shinkansen or as I've heard just "Chuo Shinkansen" to distinguish it from the Tokaido Shinkansen. They'll might have a naming competition in the future perhaps? Though I like "Chuo Shinkansen" as the name.

jib71

And on the Oedo line subway. Odd that the local name for the maglev train has nothing to do with its most distinguishing feature.

jpatokal

Probably because jikifujou (磁気浮上) is a bit of an unwieldly mouthful severely lacking in kawaii or kakkouii factor. The "linear" name comes from choudendou-linear (超電導リニア, "Superconducting Linear"), which is JR's branding for their superconducting magnetic levitation system.

5khours

They've been calling the thing a linear motor car for at least 40 years.

AlwaysAisle

The president of JR Tokai has made a comment that it is unlikely that Linear Chuo Shinkansen (Maglev Shinkansen) will start the service in 2027. JR Tokai is planning Linear Shuo Shinkansen between Shinagawa and Nagoya, where more than 80% will be an underground tunnel.

Shizuoka prefecture has a concern with the tunnel JR Tokai is planning to dig for Linear Chuo Shinkansen. An initial environmental impact study showed that there will be 2 tons of underground water spewing out from the tunnel every second. Shizuoka prefecture argues that part of the underground water will come from the Ooi River and the tunnel for Linear Chuo Shinkansen will have a large impact on the water level of the Ooi River. JR Tokai has shown other studies indicating underground water will come from all over the place and the Ooi River is a very small portion of the source of underground water and the tunnel will have a very minimal impact on the Ooi River. But Shizuoka prefecture is taking none of that. Currently, the construction of the tunnel for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen in the Shizuoka area is standstill.

Currently, four stations are planned between Shinagawa and Nagoya for Linear Chuo Shinkansen:

Hashimoto, Kanagawa
Koufu, Yamanashi (southern part of the city)
Kamisato IInuma, Nagano (Iida city)
Mino Sakamoto, Gifu (current Chuo Line station)

LapLap

From Shizuoka Prefecture’s perspective, it’s uncanny how apt the name of that river is.

AlwaysAisle

JR Tokai has now announced that Linear Chuo Shinkansen (Maglev Shinkansen) will not start the operation in 2027. This is change from "unlikely" to "will not." JR Tokai has not seen any progress with Shizuoka prefecture regarding the construction of Linear Chuo Shinkansen, and JR Tokai is now saying that at this moment there is no date set for the completion of the construction and start of the service of Linear Chuo Shinkansen.

Meanwhile, Linear Chuo Shinkansen will initially connect Shinagawa (Tokyo) and Nagoya. Nagoya-Osaka extension is planned after the completion of Shinagawa-Nagoya portion. Area around Shinagawa station is seening a lot of developments due to expected Linear Chuo Shinkansen. The station for Linear Chuo Shinkansen will be underground, 40m underground at Shinagawa station and 30m underground at Nagoya station.

At the ground level of Shinagawa station, Keikyu Line (connection to HND airport) will move current platform at the elevated level to the ground level. Also, Kita-Shinagawa station of Keikyu Line will be moved to the elevated level form current ground level. The initial phase of this construction has started. This construction is more to do with the elimination of three railroad crossings near Shinagawa station rather that Linear Shuo Shinkansen.

Pickles

I think they should move the entire Kita-Shinagawa station north of Shinagawa and stop confusing the heck out of people.

joejones

They need to elevate that piece of the Keikyu Line whether or not they build the new Shinkansen -- the level crossing just south of Shinagawa can stay closed for like 20 minutes at a time. Learned this the hard way when trying to get to a yakatabune pier on the other side.

MattEvan

Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu to resign over latest gaffe

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/02/japan/politics/shizuoka-governor-gaffe-resign/

LapLap

A “highly intellectual person” in his position should have been getting his speeches vetted by a “highly capable person”.

jib71

Heita's gonna h8.

MattEvan

I adored the JT headline. "Latest gaffe"

AlwaysAisle

Many are saying that the situation with the construction of Linear Chuo Shinkansen will not change immediately due to the resignation of the governor of Shizuoka.

The governor resigned due to making some inappropriate and insensitive comments, and not because of the opposition of Linear Chuo Shinkansen. The governor was not single-handedly opposing the construction of Linear Chuo Shinkansen, but towns and municipalities along Ooi River which depends on water from Ooi River are opposing the construction of Linear Chuo Shinkansen also.

Then this Thursday JR Tokai announced that the construction of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen around the Koufu area of Yamanashi prefecture will be delayed also. Linear Chuo Shinkansen will have a station in the south of the city of Koufu, not at the current JR Koufu station. According to JR Tokai geological features around the Koufu area are worse than the initial assessment study showed. Most likely towns and municipalities opposing the construction of Linear Chuo Shinkansen in Shizuoka will use this example to doubt the study regarding Ooi River JR Tokai conducted for the construction of Linear Chuo Shinkansen.