The operator of the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line says last month’s collision of railway maintenance vehicles occurred because a brake inspection had not been conducted properly and could not prevent a brake failure of one of the vehicles.
A maintenance vehicle collided with another, which was stopped, as it was traveling in Aichi Prefecture early in the morning of July 22. Both vehicles derailed, and the accident caused severe disruptions to train services that day.
Central Japan Railway Company, or JR Tokai, held a news conference on Monday to explain the causes of the collision.
Officials said at least three cars of the nine-car vehicle had brake fade. They said the defect prevented the vehicle from slowing down on one of the steepest slopes on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train’s route, causing the crash. The incident left two workers injured.
The officials said brakes had not been inspected in the way the maintenance vehicle manufacturer had expected. They added that while the cars should not have been in use, JR Tokai failed to realize the mistake.
The officials also found that before the accident maintenance workers had neglected to conduct inspections of some brakes, in breach of the company’s rules.
JR Tokai is currently training all maintenance workers on proper inspection methods. The operator says it plans to add the instructions to its manual.
Kawagoe Hiroshi, the corporate officer in charge of Shinkansen line infrastructure, apologized and said he is aware that the company bore responsibility for failing to inform staff of proper inspection methods.