Maglev’s “2037” Scenario Faces Harsh Reality

[Miss Maglev]

Maglev’s “2037” Scenario Faces Harsh Reality: Shizuoka Moves Forward, but the Hardest Work Is Still Ahead

The Shizuoka section of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen is finally moving toward groundbreaking after the remaining prefectural issues were cleared, and the article suggests a ceremony could come by around June 2026. That marks real progress for the project’s last untouched 8.9 km gap in the Southern Alps Tunnel.

But the bigger picture is still difficult. The hardest engineering challenge is the Southern Alps Tunnel, where overburden reaches about 1,400 meters. That depth raises the risk of severe ground pressure, rock bursts, and sudden water inflows, making the Shizuoka segment one of the most uncertain parts of the entire line.

The cost picture has worsened sharply as well. Total project cost is described as having risen from about ¥5.5 trillion to roughly ¥11 trillion. Even a 2037 opening for the Shinagawa–Nagoya section is presented as only a conditional scenario that assumes construction proceeds smoothly from here. JR Tokai itself says it cannot yet state a full opening date and acknowledges that the Shizuoka section remains highly difficult and could take even longer.

At the same time, visible progress is being made elsewhere. Work on the Kamanashigawa Bridge in Yamanashi is reported at just over 50% complete, and the planned Kanagawa Prefecture Station near Hashimoto already appears structurally advanced, with its large underground form taking shape.

The bottom line is straightforward: the maglev project has clearly resumed forward motion, but groundbreaking in Shizuoka does not settle the main risks. The unresolved issues are no longer just political. They are now centered on extreme tunnel engineering difficulty, environmental uncertainty, and rising cost pressure.

Info based on: https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/466872 Accessed 2026-05-07