Hokkaido Shinkansen

The Hokkaidō Shinkansen (Japanese北海道 新 干线) is under construction or in planning Japanese high speed line between Aomori on Honshu and Hokkaido Sapporo. The line will be operated by JR Hokkaido. The opening of the first phase between Shin- Aomori and Shin- Hakodate is scheduled for April 2016.

History

The construction of the Hokkaidō Shinkansen was in 1973 in the Nationwide Shinkansen Railway Development Act ( English Translation of Zenkoku shinkansen tetsudō seibi - hō ) decided .. Actually, hence an immediate start of construction was provided, but the strong yen and the oil crisis meant that no funds were available for the project. 1982 all Shinkansen construction projects were put on hold in view of the disastrous budgetary situation of the Japanese National Railways. 1988 only the first phase of the Hokuriku Shinkansen ( Nagano Shinkansen ) was driven back by the configured routes first. Only in 1994 the plans of the Hokkaidō Shinkansen resumed and in 1998 extensive studies have been conducted on possible routes and stops as well as environmental impact assessments. Began in 2005 with the construction of the section between Shin- Aomori and Shin- Hakodate. The commissioning of the first phase is scheduled for 2016.

Operation (planned)

The trains of the Hokkaidō Shinkansen will be bound from Aomori on the Tohoku Shinkansen to Tokyo. The extension of the Tohoku Shinkansen Morioka Hachinohe was commissioned in 2002. First, the maximum speed is 250 km / h so that the travel time between Aomori and Shin- Hakodate will be about 40 minutes. From 2013 E5 is the top speed to 320 km / h increased to the Tōhoku Shinkansen with the trains of the series, so that the travel time between Hakodate and Tokyo will be 40 minutes at about 3 hours. The buildings of the Hokkaidō Shinkansen are designed for regulating speed of 360 km / h so that the travel time will be shortened considerably later. So then the travel time between Shin- Hakodate and Shin- Aomori is said to be only about 29 minutes.

Sections ( 1st phase )

Shin- Aomori - Oku Tsugaru ( Honshu )

From Shin- Aomori to Hokkaido Shinkansen for 29 km will be built as a separate line. Then it runs on a common routes with the Tsugaru - line and the Kaikyō line. The Tsugaru - line will be operated by opening the Hokkaidō Shinkansen on. Since these unlike the Shinkansen network has 1,067 mm Kapspurweite, the common route is built as a three -rail track.

Oku- Tsugaru - Kikonai ( Seikan Tunnel )

In the section between the stations Oku- Tsugaru (planning name) and Kikonai is also retrofitted a three -rail track because kapspurige regional trains, night trains and freight trains continue to be run jointly with the trains of the Shinkansen through the Seikan Tunnel. This is especially the power supply a challenge, since these must be shared by trains of the Shinkansen and conventional network. To the overhead contact line has been modified and the operating voltage was increased from 20 to 25 kV.

In preparation for the high loads after commissioning of the Shinkansen of the Seikan Tunnel, which was opened in 1985, was subjected to extensive research from 2008 and renovations. Due to the very high humidity and high salt content in the air the tunnel construction had already exhibited some stronger signs of wear.

During construction of the Seikan Tunnel, the requirements of the Shinkansen network have already been taken into account. Thus, the maximum slope is reduced from 20 to 12 parts per thousand, so that no rate limits would be made. Also, the gauge and the track layers were designed for the later construction of the Hokkaido Shinkansen.

The three-rail stops short of Kikonai from where the Shinkansen is built on stilts.

Kikonai - Shin- Hakodate ( Hokkaido )

Between Kikonai and Shin- Hakodate Hokkaido Shinkansen Shinkansen is by default, so to completely own route and performed mostly elevated. In this section there will be six tunnels. The interim terminus station Shin- Hakodate produced about 18 km from the city of Hakodate away from where the passengers have to change trains in the direction of Sapporo on the Hakodate Line.

In Hakodate is built on an area of 360,000 m2, the operational work of the Hokkaido Shinkansen.

Further plans

Serious benefits for the traffic brings the Hokkaidō Shinkansen only when the capital of Hokkaido Sapporo is attached. The Japanese government has approved the construction of the second section in July 2012. To reduce the burden on the budget, the construction period will be extended from the usual 10 to 24 years. The commissioning of the section between Shin- Hakodate and Sapporo should take place only in 2035.

After commissioning of the second phase, the traveling time between Sapporo and Tokyo will be 3 hours and 57 minutes.

Stations

Rolling stock

In February 2014 JR Hokkaido announced that four 10 - car trains have been given based on the Shinkansen E5 series commissioned for use on the Hokkaido Shinkansen. The contract is valued at approximately 18 billion yen. The first two sets are to be delivered in October 2014, the remaining two in 2015.