East Japan Railway Company (JR East) is experiencing service suspensions and delays on conventional and Shinkansen lines in the Shinetsu and Tohoku areas due to intermittent heavy snowfall over a wide area caused by the JPCZ (Japan Sea cold air mass convergence zone).
On December 19, there will be suspensions and cancellations on conventional lines, and fewer trains will operate than usual. In Niigata Prefecture, the limited express Shirayuki and Inaho will be suspended, and the Shinetsu Main Line between Nagaoka and Niitsu will be suspended from the first departure to the end of the day on both upper and lower lines. Between Kashiwazaki and Nagaoka, operations will be suspended on both upper and lower lines from the first departure until around noon. In addition, delays and suspensions will also occur on the Shirashin Line, Hetsu Main Line, Joetsu Line, Ban-Etsu-Nishi Line, Echigo Line, Yahiko Line, Iiyama Line, and Tadami Line, depending on the section.
In the Tohoku area, the train schedule will be changed on the Ou Main Line south of Akita Prefecture: on December 19, trains between Shinjo and Innai on the Ou Main Line will be suspended from the first departure to the end of the day, and trains between Innai and Yokote will be suspended from around 6 p.m. to the end of the day. After December 20, there is a possibility that trains will be suspended or delayed from the first departure to around noon in Shinjo to Yokotodate.
As for the Shinkansen, operation of the Yamagata Shinkansen has been suspended as of 11:42 a.m. on December 19. The Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, and Joetsu Shinkansen are operating normally.
© Source travel watch