Construction of Shinkansen Lines

Shinkansen Lines (High Speed Rail)

The five Shinkansen lines - the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the Tohoku Shinkansen (north from Morioka), the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the Kyushu Shinkansen Kagoshima route and the Kyushu Shinkansen Nishi Kyushu route - are designated as priority lines to be constructed in the Development Program drafted in 1973 based on the Nationwide Shinkansen Railway Development Act.
Since the start of construction, the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Takasaki to Karuizawa in 1989, JRTT has completed a total of 996 km of Shinkansen lines to date, including the sections from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto on the Hokkaido Shinkansen, from Takasaki to Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, from Morioka to Shin-Aomori on the Tohoku Shinkansen, from Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo on the Kyushu Shinkansen Kagoshima route and from Takeo-Onsen to Nagasaki on the Kyushu Shinkansen Nishi Kyushu route. After the completion, JRTT leases them to JR companies which operate the lines and provide service to passengers.

Hokkaido Shinkansen

Outline

The Hokkaido Shinkansen is to connect from the city of Hakodate to the city of Sapporo via the city of Otaru.JRTT is currently constructing the section between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo. The line length is about 212km. The construction plan of the line was authorized by the Government in June 2012, and the groundbreaking was held in August of the same year.

In January 2015, the Government decided its target completion year in March 2031, five years ahead of the original plan under the precondition that the local governments along the line provide utmost cooperative efforts and supports to the project.

Overview of the Section from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo
To be completed March 2031

Construction length

211.9 km

  • Earthwork: 　　　　　 11.4 km (5%)
  • Bridge: 　　　　　 4.3 km (2%)
  • Viaduct: 　　　　　 27.3 km (13%)
  • Tunnel: 　　　　　 168.9 km (80%) total 17 tunnels
Line length 212 km

Major tunnels

Oshima tunnel (32.7km),Shiribeshi tunnel (18.0km),Sasson tunnel (26.2km)
Major bridges

Yurappu river bridge (245m),Shiribetsu river bridge (340m),Minami-Kutosan river bridge (210m)

Municipalities alongside the line

 Hokuto, Assabu, Yakumo, Oshamambe, Kuromatsunai, Rankoshi, Toyoura, Niseko, Kutchan, Niki, Akaigawa, Yoichi, Otaru, Sapporo

Gallery

Hokuriku Shinkansen

Outline

The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Tokyo and Osaka via the city of Nagano, the city of Toyama, and the city of Obama.The section between Kanazawa and Tsuruga is currently being constructed. The line length between Kanazawa and Tsuruga is 125km. The construction plan of the line was authorized by the Government in June 2012, and the groundbreaking was held in August of the same year. The target year of the opening is in March 2024.

Overview of the Section for Kanazawa to Tsuruga
To be completed March 2024

Construction length

114.6 km

  • Earthwork: 　　　　　 1.7 km (1%)
  • Bridge: 　　　　　 15.3 km (14%) total 298 bridges
  • Viaduct: 　　　　　 59.2 km (52%)
  • Tunnel: 　　　　　 38.4 km (33%) total 12 tunnels
Line length 125 km

Major tunnels

Kaga Tunnel (5.5km),No.2 Fukui Tunnel (3.5km),Shin-Hokuriku Tunnel (19.8km)
Major bridges

Tedorigawa river bridge (558m),No.2 Takedagawa river bridge (311m),Kuzuryugawa river bridge (414m）

Municipalities alongside the line

 Hakusan, Kawakita, Nomi, Komatsu, Kaga, Awara, Sakai, Fukui, Sabae, Echizen, Minami Echizen, Tsuruga

Stations

 Kanazawa, Komatsu, Kaga Onsen, Awara Onsen, Fukui, Echizen-Takefu, Tsuruga

Gallery

Kyushu Shinkansen (Nishi Kyushu route)

Outline

The Nishi Kyushu route of the Kyushu Shinkansen connects between the city of Fukuoka and the city of Nagasaki via the city of Saga. Although the gauge of the line had been originally designed as narrow gauge (1,067mm), the plan was changed to standard gauge (1,435mm) in 2012. The section between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki is 66km long, began construction in March 2008 and opened on September 23, 2022.

Overview of the Section for Takeo-Onsen to Nagasaki
Opening year September 23, 2022

Construction length

67km

  • Earthwork: 　　　　　 5.3 km (8%)
  • Bridge: 　　　　　7.1 km (11%) total 168 bridges
  • Viaduct: 　　　　　 13.6km (20%)
  • Tunnel: 　　　　　 41.0 km (61%) total 31 tunnels
Line length 66 km

Major tunnels

Tawarazaka tunnel （5.7㎞）,Kuyama tunnel （5.0km）,Shin-Nagasaki tunnel （7.5km）
Major bridges

Hakamano overbridge （152m）、Chiwatagawa river bridge（213m）、No.2 Honmyogawa river bridge（265m）

Municipalities alongside the line

 Takeo, Ureshino, Higashi Sonogi, Omura, Isahaya, Nagasaki

Stations

 Takeo-Onsen, Ureshino-Onsen, Shin-Omura, Isahaya, Nagasaki
Gallery

English