On September 19, 2024, at approximately 8:07 AM, JR East disclosed details about the separation of the coupling on the Tohoku Shinkansen "Hayabusa-Komachi 6" which occurred between Furukawa and Sendai stations. Here are the specifics:
Incident Details:
- Time of Occurrence: September 19, 2024, around 8:07 AM
- Location: Tohoku Shinkansen, between Furukawa and Sendai stations
- Speed: Approximately 315 km/h
- Event: The automatic emergency brakes were activated, and upon stopping, it was confirmed that the coupling had detached. The distance between the separated cars was about 300 meters.
- Inspection Results: No visible abnormalities were found in the coupler or wheels.
Operational Impact:
- Affected Passengers: Approximately 45,000
- Train Disruptions: 72 trains were canceled, and 35 trains experienced delays of up to 351 minutes.
- Service Resumption: After vehicle inspections, service resumed on the entire line at 1:12 PM.
Response and Future Measures:
- Full Inspection: An urgent visual inspection of the couplings on all 96 sets involved in combined operations will be conducted.
- Cause Investigation: The cause of the incident will be investigated, and necessary measures will be taken.
Despite normal operations, this unusual incident of coupling detachment occurred. JR East is committed to thorough inspections and preventive measures to avoid future occurrences.
