Japanese Authorities Consider Postponing Hokkaido Shinkansen Line Extension
The Japanese government is contemplating an eight-year delay in the expansion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line, which could shift the completion date to 2039.
On March 8th, the Japanese government announced a delay in the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line extension.
The extension that aims to connect the line to Sapporo may now be postponed for eight years, pushing the projected completion to around 2039.
Experts indicate that this delay is primarily due to complications with tunnel construction. The anticipated 212-kilometer extension from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo faces obstacles related to a shortage of construction workers and geological hurdles such as massive rock formations and soft soil.
This issue is exacerbated as tunnels constitute about 80% of the segment, expected to traverse regions near the renowned Niseko ski resort.
Background on the Extension
Originally, the government aimed for completion of this expansion by spring 2031. Plans were initially approved in 2012, with an estimated cost of approximately $11.3 billion. However, in December 2022, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism revised this estimate to around 2.3 trillion yen due to rising material costs.
The Hokkaido Shinkansen Line commenced operations on March 26, 2016, linking Tokyo directly to the northernmost of Japan’s main islands via the undersea Seikan Tunnel.
