リニア新幹線 最先端技術を国益に生かせ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 23, 2011)
Maglev train project must serve national interests
リニア新幹線　最先端技術を国益に生かせ（8月22日付・読売社説）

Central Japan Railway Co.'s ongoing project to build a maglev train system linking Tokyo and Osaka is finally in full swing.
　ＪＲ東海が進めているリニア中央新幹線の構想が、いよいよ本格的に動き出した。

Early this month, JR Tokai released a list of probable locations for intermediate stations in four prefectures--Aichi excluded--through which its envisaged magnetically levitated train would run on the Tokyo-Nagoya section of its route.
The proposed sites include one on the border between Takamorimachi and Iida in Nagano Prefecture.
　東京―名古屋間の４県に作る中間駅の候補地域が、高森町・飯田市（長野県）などに決まった。

Aiming to begin construction of its Chuo Shinkansen system in fiscal 2014, the railway firm is set to start an environmental impact study covering areas along the planned route as early as the end of this year.
２０１４年度の着工を目指し、年内にも沿線の環境影響調査に入る。

JR Tokai plans to start service along a portion of the envisaged route in 2027, extending its maglev train services to Osaka in 2045. The megaproject, which would link Tokyo and Osaka through a 67-minute ride, would cost a staggering 9 trillion yen.
　２７年に開業し、４５年に大阪まで延伸する計画で、東京―大阪間を６７分で結ぶ。総建設費９兆円もの巨大プロジェクトだ。

The safety of buildings and facilities is under increasing public scrutiny due to the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing nuclear crisis.
　東日本大震災や原発事故を受けて、安全性に対する国民の目は厳しさを増している。

Therefore, JR Tokai's first priority should be to ensure the new train system will operate safely.
最優先課題は安全運行である。

The ultrahigh-speed train line would also serve as a bypass for the current Tokaido Shinkansen line.
　リニア新幹線は、東海道新幹線の代替機能も持つ。

Given this, thorough safety measures must be taken so the new system will be able to serve as Japan's main transportation artery if a major natural disaster strikes.
大規模な自然災害の発生時に大動脈としての役割を果たせるよう徹底した安全対策を講じねばならない。

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Hitting the brakes at 500 kph

The new Shinkansen--in which magnetic force is used to levitate a train about 10 centimeters above the ground--runs at 500 kph.
　リニア新幹線は磁力で地表から１０センチ程度浮上し、時速５００キロで走行する。

A focus of particular attention is how the system would respond to such emergencies as a powerful earthquake and power outage.
特に注目されているのが、大地震や停電への対策だ。

According to JR Tokai, the system would apply multiple types of brakes if it detected seismic waves, thus safely halting trains at a deceleration speed double that of the current Shinkansen system.
　ＪＲ東海によると、地震波を検知すれば、各種のブレーキが作動し、現行新幹線の２倍の急減速で安全に停止する。

This is also true with a safety mechanism that would be triggered in the event of an electric power failure. The new bullet train would maintain levitation on the strength of magnetic force, supported by side walls along a railway track to prevent a derailment.
停電しても、磁力で車両は浮いた状態に保たれ、側壁が脱線を防ぐという。

After studying the earthquake resistance of the maglev train, an advisory body to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has confirmed that the system's safeguards will serve their intended purposes.
　リニアの耐震性を検証した国土交通省の審議会は、こうした安全対策にお墨付きを与えた。

However, a major disaster could hit facilities to an extent beyond the expectations of the operators, as illustrated by the series of accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　だが、原発事故で明らかになったように、事業者の想定を超えた災害が発生する可能性もある。

With this in mind, we hope JR Tokai will continue to make technological improvements in the safety of the new Shinkansen system.
　ＪＲ東海は、安全面での技術改良を続けてもらいたい。

The proposed route runs through the Southern Japanese Alps. About 70 percent of the line would be in underground tunnels.
　計画ルートは南アルプスを貫き、全路線の７割が地下トンネルである。

This makes it necessary to implement measures aimed at guiding passengers to safety in the event that the maglev train comes to a sudden stop.
急停車した場合、乗客を安全に誘導する対策が必要だ。

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Stations will be expensive

Another task for JR Tokai is to achieve a consensus with local governments affected by the project over the construction costs for the intermediate stations.
　中間駅の建設費を巡って、地元自治体との調整も課題となる。

JR Tokai plans to pay for the construction of three key facilities: one terminal in Tokyo, another in Osaka and another major station in Nagoya. However, the railway firm has asked the four prefectural governments--each of which would host one intermediate station along the route--to pay the full cost of constructing those stations.
　ＪＲ東海は、東京、名古屋、大阪の３駅は自前で整備するが、沿線県に１駅ずつの中間駅は自治体に全額負担を求めている。

It would cost an estimated 35 billion yen to build an aboveground intermediate station.
The bill for the construction of an underground station would amount to a hefty 220 billion yen.
　だが、費用は地上駅でも３５０億円、地下駅なら２２００億円かかる。

The local governments have demanded a reduction in their financial burdens, citing their own fiscal straits.
自治体は財政難を理由に、負担の軽減を要求している。

The maglev Shinkansen system is expected to provide a great economic boon, contributing to the economic and other development of areas along its route.
　リニア新幹線の経済効果は大きく、地域振興に役立つだろう。

It is important for JR Tokai and the local governments to fully discuss every aspect the project and build cooperative relations.
両者が、よく話し合って協力関係を築いていくことが大切だ。

It is also necessary to pay full consideration to the environmental impact of the project.
　環境にも十分配慮する必要がある。

Areas along the proposed route are dotted with rich natural surroundings.
沿線には豊かな自然が残る。

We hope every effort will be made to minimize the impact of construction work on the ecosystem, water sources and all other environmental assets.
工事では、生態系や水源などへの影響を最小限に抑えたい。

The maglev train system is a remarkable feature of Japan's state-of-the-art technology.
The system's technological excellence is bound to boost the nation's infrastructure export drive.
　リニアは、日本のインフラ輸出に役立つ最先端技術だ。

It is essential to obtain support and trust from the public for the Chuo Shinkansen project if the maglev train--which many regard as "a superexpress of the 21st century"--is to benefit the whole nation.
「２１世紀の超特急」を日本全体の利益とするには、国民の理解と信頼を得ることが何より重要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2011)
（2011年8月22日01時03分 読売新聞）