Two linked Shinkansen bullet trains decoupled and made an emergency stop near a station in Tokyo on Thursday, briefly disrupting bullet train services in eastern Japan, according to the railway operator.
A Hayabusa train and a Komachi train on the Tohoku Shinkansen line were found decoupled at around 11:30 a.m. local time between Ueno and Omiya stations, and halted near Nishinippori Station on a local commuter line for examination, East Japan Railway (JR East) said.
The railway operator said no injuries have been reported, adding that around 650 passengers were onboard at the time of the incident.
The linked 10-car Hayabusa and seven-car Komachi departed Tokyo Station at 11:20 a.m. local time and were supposed to separate later, with the Hayabusa to travel to Shinaomori Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line and the Komachi to Akita on the Akita Shinkansen Line.
Following the incident, bullet train services on the Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Hokuriku, and Joetsu Shinkansen lines had been suspended on certain sections, but the five disrupted lines resumed operation around 2:30 p.m. local time, JR East said.
JR East is investigating the cause of the incident.
