Tokaido Shinkansen Suspended for 3 Hours After Fatal Collision with Trespasser

On June 19, JR Central reported that Nozomi No. 49, traveling from Tokyo to Hakata, struck a person who had trespassed onto the tracks near Hamamatsu Station at approximately 5:40 PM. The incident forced a suspension of the entire Tokaido Shinkansen line, along with the Sanyo Shinkansen section between Hakata and Shin-Osaka.

JR Central stated that service was expected to resume gradually around 8:45 PM following safety inspections of the train and tracks. The operator of the train reported an emergency stop approximately 3 kilometers from Hamamatsu Station toward Toyohashi. While passengers on board were unharmed, local authorities confirmed that the individual struck by the train died at the scene.

Due to significant crowds forming at major stations, JR Central advised travelers to cancel or postpone non-essential trips, warning that resumed services would likely be at full capacity. Aerial footage confirmed damage to the front of the train, with emergency response vehicles deployed to the scene. Passengers reported the situation remained calm, though widespread disruption persisted at key transit hubs like Nagoya and Tokyo stations, leaving many commuters stranded.