Japan’s Linear Chuo Shinkansen, a high-speed magnetic railway project, has received crucial approval to move forward with construction. According to NHK World, the operator JR Central has managed to resolve long-standing disputes over a section in Shizuoka Prefecture, where local authorities had raised concerns about potential environmental damage.
This particular section has been the main hurdle for the project’s advancement. A large portion of the future line will run through tunnels, and construction beneath a mountain range near the Oi River sparked fears that the work could affect water levels and disrupt the local ecosystem. As a result of this disagreement, the launch of the maglev train—originally scheduled for 2027—had to be postponed.
Now, JR Central has agreed to enhance protective measures for the Oi River and ensure additional monitoring of the construction’s environmental impact. This has allowed the project to proceed to the next phase.
Experts estimate that building the problematic section could take over a decade. If the project progresses without major delays, the world’s first intercity maglev train could begin transporting passengers around 2037.
The Linear Chuo Shinkansen will represent the largest implementation of magnetic levitation technology for long-distance travel. The trains will be capable of reaching speeds of approximately 500 km/h, barely touching the rails thanks to the magnetic suspension system.
Once operational, the line will cut travel time between Tokyo and Nagoya to roughly 40 minutes. For comparison, the fastest current train in Japan’s Shinkansen network, the Nozomi, covers this route in about an hour and a half.
Looking ahead, the project is planned to be extended to Osaka. After the completion of the second phase, a trip between Tokyo and Osaka will take around 67 minutes—down from approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes on today’s high-speed trains.
The total cost of the project is estimated at roughly $68 billion. In addition to reducing travel times, the new line will free up capacity on the conventional railway for regional transport.
Japan is a global leader in ultra-high-speed maglev technology. China is also developing its own magnetic levitation projects and exploring the possibility of trains reaching speeds up to 600 km/h. However, China’s current maglev systems are primarily used for short urban routes.
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