TOKYO - Heavy rain disrupted rail services across the Tokyo metropolitan area during the morning commute on September 7, with some conventional lines suspended until the afternoon and many major routes operating 20% to 30% fewer trains, while the Tokaido Shinkansen was running normally from its first services of the day.
Rain around Shinjuku Station in central Tokyo had eased by around 7 a.m., with some pedestrians seen walking without umbrellas and relatively calm conditions continuing for about an hour.
Despite the easing rain in central Tokyo, railway services across the Kanto region were experiencing cancellations, suspensions and reduced operations.
East Japan Railway said services on several conventional lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area and wider Kanto region would remain suspended until the afternoon, including the entire Shonan-Shinjuku Line.
Many other major commuter routes, including the Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tohoku Line, were operating with about 20% to 30% fewer trains than usual.
The disruption followed forecasts of heavy rain through the morning of September 7 that had prompted rail operators to announce precautionary service changes.
Central Japan Railway had earlier warned that the Tokaido Shinkansen could face temporary suspensions and delays because of heavy rain forecast along the route.
However, the company said on the morning of September 7 that Tokaido Shinkansen trains were operating normally from the first departures of the day.
East Japan Railway had also announced that the Yamagata Shinkansen would suspend all services between Fukushima and Shinjo throughout September 7.
Most Yamagata Shinkansen trains operating to and from Tokyo were also canceled, with only some services expected to run.
On the Tokaido Line, the final trains between Odawara and Atami had departed earlier than usual on the night of September 6 because of the expected heavy rain.
Source: TBS
