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JR Central Sets Up Central Cost-Control Unit as Maglev Project Costs Surge

JR Central is restructuring its organization to improve efficiency and control rising costs on the Linear Chuo Shinkansen project. A new Planning and Strategy Department will be created to centrally manage construction costs and project coordination, acting as a command center for the entire build. The move comes in response to sharply rising costs. In October 2025, JR Central revised the estimated total cost of the Shinagawa–Nagoya section from about ¥7 trillion to roughly ¥11 trillion, driven by inflation and difficult engineering conditions.

The reorganization takes effect on July 1 and merges three existing departments into a single unit. The goal is to simplify the structure, speed up decision-making and information flow, and eliminate overlaps that have developed as the project has grown over more than a decade. The new structure is intended to tighten cost control and improve overall construction efficiency as the project enters a more complex phase.

Source: Info based on: https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOFD ... 0C2000000/ Accessed 2026-05-18

JR Central Renames Yamanashi Test Center and Overhauls Maglev Organization to Boost Project Control

JR Central will implement a major organizational restructuring for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen on July 1, 2026, alongside renaming key units. The Yamanashi Test Center will become the Yamanashi Maglev Center, and the Maglev Development Headquarters will be renamed the Maglev Development Department.
A new Planning and Strategy Department will be created by merging existing planning and administrative units. This department will sit directly under the project headquarters and integrate planning and execution functions. At the same time, existing construction departments will be dissolved, and specialized divisions such as civil engineering, architecture, electrical, and mechanical works will report directly to the central project body. The goal is to speed up decision-making and improve coordination with construction sites.

Info based on https://raillab.jp/news/article/34802

JR Central Restructures to Handle Rising Maglev Costs as Project Price Hits ¥11 Trillion

JR Central is preparing for further cost increases on the Linear Chuo Shinkansen by implementing an organizational overhaul in July 2026. The goal is to improve how construction costs and schedules are managed.

The project has already seen a major cost surge. The estimated total for the Shinagawa–Nagoya section has risen by about ¥4 trillion, reaching roughly ¥11 trillion, driven by higher material and labor costs as well as challenging tunnel construction. At the same time, the opening has been pushed back from the original 2027 target to 2036 or later.

To respond more quickly to further cost increases, JR Central will centralize management functions that were previously spread across multiple departments. This includes consolidating oversight of both construction costs and project timelines into a single structure to enable faster decision-making and tighter control.

Info based on https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/1046455 Accessed 2026-05-19