Train service on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, which connects Tokyo’s Shibuya and Kanagawa Prefecture, remains partially suspended after two trains collided at a station on Sunday night. No one was injured.
The operator, Tokyu Railways, says the collision occurred shortly past 11 p.m., when a local train bound for Shibuya from Chuo-rinkan entered Kajigaya Station in Kawasaki City and struck an out-of-service train.
The collision caused part of the out-of-service train to derail. The other train was carrying about 140 passengers, but no one was hurt. The drivers of both trains were also unharmed.
Tokyu says the out-of-service train had been parked on a siding next to the main track. But the company believes part of the train still remained on the main track.
The company is investigating the exact cause of the collision. It says there was no prospect of moving the two trains involved as of 5 a.m. on Monday.
Service between Shibuya and Saginuma remains suspended in both directions, while trains are running between Saginuma and Chuo-rinkan.
The Tokyu Oimachi Line is also affected, with service suspended between Futako-tamagawa and Mizonokuchi stations in both directions since the first trains on Monday. The operator is providing alternative transportation via buses and other railway lines.
Transport authorities inspect site of train collision near Tokyo
Japan’s transport authorities are investigating a collision between two trains on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line that caused one of them to partially derail near Tokyo on Sunday night.
The Japan Transport Safety Board sent two investigators to the collision site at Kajigaya Station in Kawasaki City on Monday to look into the cause of the accident.
The rear car of the out-of-service train partially derailed. The local train was carrying 149 passengers, but no one was injured. The drivers and conductors of both trains were also unharmed.
Tokyu Railways says the out-of-service train with 10 cars was parked on a rail siding, but part of the rear car was apparently protruding toward the main track. The first four cars of the local train were damaged on the right side.
The transport ministry said the driver of the out-of-service train was under training. The train reportedly received a signal meant to prevent overruns from excessive speed and stopped automatically before it reached the place where it was supposed to park.
The driver of the local train noticed the out-of-service train was closer to the main track than normal and applied the emergency brakes, but could not stop quickly enough.
The two trains are still stranded at the site. Service between Shibuya and Saginuma stations remains suspended in both directions.
The operator says the trains cannot be moved until investigators complete their inspection of the site. It has not specified when service will resume between the affected stations.
AloJapan.com