Kyūshū Shinkansen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kyushu Shinkansen |
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| Overview | |
| Owner | JR Kyushu |
| Locale | Kyushu (Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima Prefectures) |
| Termini | Hakata Kagoshima-Chūō |
| Stations | 12 |
| Service | |
| Type | Shinkansen |
| Operator(s) | JR Kyushu JR West |
| Depot(s) | Kumamoto Sendai |
| Rolling stock | 800 series N700-7000/8000 series |
| History | |
| Opened | 2004 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 256.8 km (159.6 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz overhead catenary |
| Operating speed | 260 km/h (162 mph) |
The Kyushu Shinkansen is a super-fast train line in Japan. It connects the cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu. This modern railway runs alongside an older train line called the Kagoshima Main Line. It is also an extension of another high-speed line, the San'yō Shinkansen, which comes from Japan's main island, Honshu. The trains on this line are operated by a company called JR Kyushu.
Contents
Building the Fast Track
Building the Kyushu Shinkansen was a big project. Work on the first part of the line began in 2008. Later, in 2012, construction started on a section from Isahaya to Nagasaki.
Opening Sections
The northern part of the line, which is about 130 km (81 mi) long, opened on March 12, 2011. However, the opening celebrations were canceled. This was because of a very strong earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan earlier that year.
The entire Kagoshima Route was planned to be fully open by March 2023.
Earthquake Impact
On the evening of April 14, 2016, a powerful earthquake hit the Kumamoto area. Because of this, the entire Kagoshima Route of the Kyushu Shinkansen had to be shut down. There was a lot of damage along the railway line. For example, cracks appeared in the elevated support structures in 25 different places.
Train Derailment
During the first earthquake, one of the high-speed trains, an 800 Series train, went off its tracks. This happened near Kumamoto Station. A few days later, on April 18, JR Kyushu began working to put the derailed train back on the tracks.
Reopening the Line
The train line was able to reopen on April 27, 2016. However, trains had to run at a slower speed and there were fewer services than usual. This was to make sure everything was safe after the earthquake damage.
See also
- Kyūshū Shinkansen para niños (Kyushu Shinkansen for children in Spanish)
