TOKYO —

Bullet-train services were disrupted Monday on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line for the second day in a row due to heavy rain along the Pacific coast in Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures, the carrier said. Central Japan Railway Co (JR Tokai) said heavy rain in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, reached an alarming level, forcing bullet trains to a halt for 50 minutes between Odawara and Atami stations. Services returned to normal by the evening, JR Tokai said.

The heavy rain suspended 47 runs and delayed 154 up to three hours, affecting some 130,000 passengers, JR Tokai said. Local-line trains were also affected. In the morning, the Tokaido Line suspended services between Tokyo and Atami stations until 8:40 a.m., while the Ito Line also halted runs. It was the second straight day of disruptions. On Sunday, heavy rain in the same area halted 25 trains, putting 120,000 passengers in limbo.

In the evening, those who could not secure accommodations outside railway stations were allowed to sleep in shinkansen cars as an emergency measure at six stations, including Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. Some 4,500 passengers spent the night in trains, JR Tokai said.

© 2008 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

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8 Comments

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  some14some at 08:42 AM JST - 26th August

  Rule of thumb: 10mm rain per hour and bullet train is delayed by one hr.

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  AlfGarnett at 08:53 AM JST - 26th August

  Notginger; ere thay aint got British Rail to run thei servicesave they.

  I fought Japanese trains and all that,was always on time, must `ave been wrong again eh!!

  Blimey, a bit of rain aint nuffink to worry about is it.

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  AlfGarnett at 05:10 PM JST - 26th August

  The trains shoudnt be late an that, just `cos bit ov rain. I fought the technology was better over there.

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  imgold at 05:57 PM JST - 26th August

  OK I understand why the shinkansen trains might be affected by heavy rains in various regions. But why have the local trains in the Tokyo area been such a mess the past few days. Two days in a row now my morning and, late, evening commute have been delayed for no particular reason. Obviously a little drizzle shouldn't have any effect on the in-bound and outbound trains around Tokyo. Of course one of those days was monday morning, which by now I have become accustomed to being off schedule. I'd love to see the stats for monday morning delays.

  BTW, this must have been a horrific sight,

  "Some 4,500 passengers spent the night in trains, JR Tokai said."

  and the stench ? No-thank-you !

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  rajakumar at 05:20 AM JST - 27th August

  Bullet train, no match to power of water, bullet rain. High tech is not above nature.

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  martyman at 03:43 PM JST - 27th August

  Interesting how weather takes the center stage for delaying the train schedule. I was able to hang out in a JR for about three hours from a collision it had with a scooter. No idea how many prople it affected, but was pretty good for me on getting digits from some fine ladies. You gotta love mass transit systems.

  I dont recall to much media coverage from the event, but it wasn't front page worthy.

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