On March 15, an incident in Aichi Prefecture raised concerns about the safety of the Tokaido Shinkansen. On the Nozomi No. 317 train from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, a passenger noticed a crack in the train's window and reported the incident to the authorities. Following the incident, security measures were quickly taken and passengers were moved to another section.
Details of the Incident and Rapid Response
About 16 passengers in the train's number 60 carriage noticed a crack in the window and were quickly replaced by another carriage. The train slowed down briefly, but there were no injuries. JR Tokai said the incident was noticed at 10:30 a.m. and that there was no danger to the train at the time.
Detection of Steel Plate and Cracking of Glass
As a result of the investigation, a steel plate measuring 30 centimeters long, 40-60 centimeters wide and 3 millimeters thick was found in the Sakanosaka Tunnel. It was stated that this plate was placed to protect the signal and communication cables. Experts believe that the falling of the plate caused the glass to crack and that this was the trigger for the Tokaido Shinkansen glass to break. JR Tokai is investigating why the steel plate fell and how this happened.
Travel Security and Strong Response
The relevant maintenance teams had inspected the communication equipment in the tunnel on March 12-13 and reported that everything was normal. However, the incident prompted JR Tokai to tighten safety regulations and prevent similar accidents in the future. Passengers experienced only a slight delay, but the incident once again highlighted the importance of keeping the Tokaido Shinkansen safe at all times.
JR Tokai's Security Measures and Research
JR Tokai is continuing to investigate the accident and has committed to informing the public soon. In the meantime, trains continue to operate smoothly and authorities are monitoring all lines with extra vigilance. The company will strengthen measures to improve safety and aims to rebuild passenger confidence.
Japan’s bullet train system is a showcase of the country’s technological prowess, so maintaining the trains’ reliability is always a priority. JR Tokai’s rapid response and efforts to ensure safety are crucial to earning passengers’ trust.
