Central Japan Railway Company or JR Tokai started work on December 17 to build Maglev railway stations in Tokyo and Nagoya. The company’s officials, local stakeholders and contractors attended the groundbreaking ceremony and prayed for safety near Shinagawa of Tokyo and Nagoya stations, which are planned to be the terminals of each end of 285.6km line. The 5.5 trillion yen project is expected to start operation in 2027.

President Koei Tsuge said at the ceremony in Nagoya the next-generation Maglev line will play an important role in future Japan. The next-generation Bullet Trains are expected to induce developments along the lines, he added.

The two terminals will be built under the existing station buildings by the cut and cover method. Preparation works begun after the ceremony at both sites and major civil construction will be undertaken in full swing in 2015.(2014/12/19)