On May 29, JR Tokai announced that it will strengthen the Tokaido Shinkansen line’s track facilities against heavy rainfall and revise operating restrictions during rainfall. The company aims to improve safety in the face of several days of heavy rainfall, which has been increasing in recent years, while reducing the amount of time that trains are slowed down or suspended.
In particular, approximately 11 billion yen will be invested in countermeasure work between Mishima and Hamamatsu Stations, where heavy rains are frequent and driving restrictions are likely to be prolonged. In concrete terms, the “embankment” that serves as the foundation of the track will be fully covered with concrete to prevent rainwater infiltration in areas where the slope has only been reinforced with concrete frames in the past, and the foundation itself will be reinforced by driving piles into the high embankment. The construction period is from May 2026 to May 2026. The construction period is scheduled from May 2026 to March 2030.
For the sections where these facility enhancements have been completed, we will gradually revise the operation regulation values based on “soil rainfall” from FY2027 onward. Soil rainfall is an index that quantifies how much rainfall soaks into the soil and accumulates, and was introduced as a new operation suspension standard in June 2025 as a precaution against long rains.
According to JR Tokai’s estimates based on historical rainfall data, the total time of operation restrictions due to heavy rainfall is expected to decrease by approximately 20% compared to the past due to the strengthening of facilities and the increase in regulation values.
© Source travel watch