In Utsunomiya City, the LRT = next-generation tram vehicle, which was being trial run for next year's opening, derailed early on the 19th.
No one was injured, but the city is investigating the detailed cause of the accident.
Around 0:30 am on the 19th, when the LRT = next-generation tram, which was being trial run near the east exit of JR Utsunomiya Station, approached a curve, the front two cars of the three-car train derailed and ran onto a nearby sidewalk. I was.
There were no injuries to the 10 or so people on board, including the driver, and those who were watching nearby, but the accident damaged the front and sides of the vehicle, and the pole separating the road from the LRT track fell over. I was.
At the site, city officials and others used multiple jacks to return the derailed vehicle to the rail, and it was towed by another vehicle and transported to the depot in the city.
Utsunomiya City's LRT has started trial operation from the 17th for the opening of next August, and from the midnight of the 18th to the early morning of the 19th, the second day, the speed is increased to about 15 kilometers per hour. However, it was confirmed that the vehicle would not come into contact with facilities such as stops.
According to Utsunomiya City, the cause of the derailment is still unknown, so we will investigate in detail by checking the status of the vehicle and rails.
Derailed at a sharp curve that turns 90 degrees to the right
The disconnection accident occurred at the "Utsunomiya Station East Exit" at the west end of the 19 stations.
When the trial vehicle, which was running on the inbound track from east to west, approached a curve that turned right in front of "Utsunomiya Station East Exit", the wheels of the leading vehicle derailed and ran onto a nearby sidewalk.
The curve at the site is a sharp curve that changes direction by 90 degrees.
LRT to start test operation from 17th aiming to open next August
The LRT is a next-generation streetcar that runs approximately 14.6 kilometers from the east side of JR Utsunomiya Station to the neighboring town of Haga.
Utsunomiya City and others are developing as part of the town development project, and initially aimed to open in March this year, but due to construction delays, the opening date has been postponed twice so far. it was done.
The construction cost was also increased by about 22 billion yen to about 68.4 billion yen.
Currently, trial runs have begun on the 17th, aiming to open in August next year, in a section of about 4 km between the depot in Shimohirade-cho, Utsunomiya City and the "Utsunomiya Station East Exit" stop.
People in the town "I'm worried that it will be an accident from the beginning"
A large number of people gathered at the site of the derailment accident of the LRT = next-generation tram from the morning and watched the restoration work.
A man in his 40s who was visiting with his 3-year-old son said, ``I said that if the LRT were completed, I would like to ride it with my son. I was talking to
A man in his 70s who lives nearby said, "I'm worried that an accident will occur from the beginning because the LRT carries the expectations of the citizens. I want you to thoroughly investigate the cause."