Linear Chuo Shinkansen: Major Progress Made Toward Starting Work on All Sections

Editorial

15:19 JST, April 5, 2026

After nearly a decade of negotiations, the Shizuoka prefectural government and Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) have reached an agreement regarding environmental issues in a construction area for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen maglev line. It is hoped that this development will lead to an early opening of the line and that it will serve as an arterial route supporting the Japanese economy.

An expert panel of the Shizuoka prefectural government has approved all 28 environmental measures proposed by JR Tokai for the Shizuoka section, where work has yet to begin. These measures include the conservation of water resources and biodiversity in the Southern Japanese Alps.

Shizuoka Gov. Yasutomo Suzuki had set the fulfillment of these 28 measures as a condition for approving the start of construction in that section. Now that this major milestone has been passed, the possibility of work commencing within the year has increased, pending a final decision by the governor. The opening of the line in the mid-2030s can now be said to have come into view.

However, local residents are highly interested in the environmental issues. JR Tokai must continue its sincere efforts regarding measures such as securing water resources.

The Linear Chuo Shinkansen is a national project that aims to utilize superconducting technology to connect Shinagawa in Tokyo with Osaka in 67 minutes. It is expected to drive economic growth by linking the three major metropolitan areas. There is no doubt that it will also significantly transform people’s work and lifestyles.

On the 286-kilometer section between Tokyo and Nagoya, which the company aims to open first, tunnels account for 86% of the route, making it less susceptible to the effects of earthquakes. Having multiple Shinkansen lines running in parallel will also strengthen disaster resilience.

Expectations are high, but the project has faced an endless series of difficult challenges.

JR Tokai began construction on the Tokyo-Nagoya section in 2014. The line was originally scheduled to open in 2027.

However, the former governor of Shizuoka Prefecture made his opposition clear in 2017, pointing out the risk of a decrease in the volume of the Oi River, which provides water for the daily lives of residents in the prefecture. This led to a stalemate that lasted for many years. Signs of a breakthrough finally appeared after Suzuki took office in 2024.

As the opening has been delayed, social conditions and other factors have undergone significant changes.

The biggest problems involve dealing with rising material costs and construction difficulties. The total construction cost was about ¥5.5 trillion in the original plan, but it has ballooned to ¥11 trillion following two revisions in 2021 and 2025.

A particular challenge is the Southern Alps Tunnel, which spans about 25 kilometers. The tunnel reaches a maximum depth of 1,400 meters below the surface. This will likely be an unprecedentedly difficult construction project in terms of both technology and cost management. It is necessary to bring together the latest expertise and civil engineering techniques.

Furthermore, remote work has become established in society due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the declining birth rate and graying of the population have accelerated. It is essential to verify whether conventional estimates for passenger numbers and earnings remain valid. The project utilizes ¥3 trillion in fiscal investment and loans from the government, so a close examination of its economic impact will also be required.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5, 2026)