Bullet train passengers have been warned of delays or cancellations on the Tokaido Shinkansen line on Tuesday, the day after a collision of railway maintenance vehicles caused severe disruptions to the services.
The operator, Central Japan Railway Company, says one maintenance vehicle collided with another, which was stopped, as it was traveling between Toyohashi and Mikawa-Anjo stations early Monday morning, causing both to derail. The incident left two workers injured.
Services between Hamamatsu and Nagoya stations were affected throughout Monday. The operator said the accident led to the cancellation of 328 bullet trains as of around 11:30 p.m., affecting an estimated 250,000 passengers.
The company says passengers can get the latest information on Tuesday’s services on its website or by any other means, warning that some of the trains scheduled on that day could be canceled or delayed from the first train.
The operator offered an apology at a news conference on Monday night. Officials say the maintenance vehicle’s driver applied the brakes but it didn’t slow down for unknown reasons.