The Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen, which was partially interrupted by the last month's earthquake that observed shaking with a seismic intensity of 6 or higher, resumed operation between Sendai and Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture.
Due to the earthquake on the 16th of last month, the Tohoku Shinkansen continued to be interrupted between Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture and Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture due to train derailment and equipment damage, but it was operated between Koriyama and Fukushima on the 2nd of this month. The operation was resumed on the 4th between Sendai and Ichinoseki, where the restoration work was newly completed.
At the platform of JR Sendai Station, where direct operation with Shin-Aomori and Akita was resumed, commuters and tourists were boarding the Shinkansen one after another.
A man who was commuting to work said, "I used to transfer to a conventional line after the earthquake, but the Shinkansen saves me about an hour. I'm really grateful."
According to JR East, in the section where direct operation was resumed on the 4th, the number of Shinkansen trains will be reduced to about 60% for the time being, and the speed will be reduced to ensure safety.
JR East is aiming to resume operation around the 20th of this month between Fukushima and Sendai, which will be the remaining non-stop section.