Descriptions:
On the morning of the 23rd, Tohoku Shinkansen service between Sendai and Tokyo stations was suspended due to a power outage. JR East announced that it would suspend service all day on the 23rd, but recently announced that it would resume service on all lines starting with the first train on the 24th. At noon on the 23rd, many people gathered at JR Sendai Station waiting for the train to resume service. At the Shinkansen ticket counters, station staff were busy answering questions and passengers looked confused. Passengers: “There is no hope of opening.” “I have problems.” “They say the Yamagata Shinkansen is running, so I thought if I can get to Yamagata, I can go back to Tokyo.” The problem began around 10 a.m. on the 23rd when there was a power outage between Ueno and Oyama stations on the Tohoku Shinkansen. Due to this, Tohoku Shinkansen service from Tokyo to Sendai Station was suspended. JR East explained that overhead wires were hanging down in the city of Saitama, causing problems with train traffic. It was announced that recovery would take a long time. Announcer Yutaka Tsutsumi: “This is the JR bus ticket office, but there are a lot of people lining up in front of the ticket office due to the Shinkansen being suspended.” The shutdown lasted more than eight hours and many passengers were forced to make changes to their plans, including switching to traveling by bus. Passengers: “I got dropped off on the way to Tokyo and didn’t know how to get there, so I looked for a bus.” “The sumo match starts at 3 o’clock, but I won’t be able to make it in time.” “I’m going to Tokyo, I’ve been meaning to go and I’ve been waiting for a while.” “Right now, it’s just another night. there are no more buses left, so I may have to start over on the 24th.” Some of those affected include: Ishinomaki City Mayor Masami Saito: “It’s very disappointing, but I think we have no choice but to wait. We want our area to remain as empty as possible.” The Tohoku Shinkansen is an important infrastructure connecting Sendai and Tokyo. The consequences of the accident on overhead lines are still felt today.