Local News

Plans had called for the use of a gauge change train, also called a free gauge train, on the Nagasaki route of the Shinkansen, but that is proving difficult. The train would have variable gauge axles to allow the use of trains on both Shinkansen lines and narrower provincial lines. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport conducted trials of those trains last year, but will not have them built. Development of new trains had begun, but they are unstable on the rails and it is not known when the technical difficulties can be overcome. Because further trials and the manufacture of these trains would require a lot of time, they are unlikely to be ready by the planned opening of the Nagasaki leg in March 2018.