マニアも熱視線！JR福島駅で進む「アプローチ線」工事　完成すれば乗車ホームも分かりやすく【福島発】 (23/06/26 12:10)

"Is platform 14 for Tokyo?... Huh? I thought I was on a different platform last time." Have you ever had this experience at JR Fukushima Station? Construction of an "approach track" is currently underway to resolve the issues lurking at Fukushima Station. *** The Tohoku Shinkansen, the Artery of Eastern Japan On June 23, 1982, the Tohoku Shinkansen opened, connecting Morioka and Omiya. The travel time between Fukushima and Koriyama was reduced from approximately 40 minutes to approximately 15 minutes, dramatically changing our lives. After that, it was extended to Tokyo, and in 1992 the Yamagata Shinkansen opened, further improving convenience. Construction to Solve the Problem Currently, large-scale construction work is underway around Fukushima Station. Construction is underway on the tracks leading to JR Fukushima Station. Once completed, Shinkansen trains arriving from Yamagata will be able to pass through, marking a long-cherished dream for JR since the Yamagata Shinkansen opened. At first glance, the Fukushima Station platform appears to be operating normally, but what exactly is the problem? For the first time, a television camera crew infiltrated a construction site. Yamagata Shinkansen Involved Currently, there are four Shinkansen tracks across the Fukushima Station platform: inbound trains (platforms 11 and 12) and outbound trains (platforms 13 and 14) bound for Tokyo. However, the problem is that inbound trains are forced to enter platform 14, which should be for outbound trains. This is because only one track enters Fukushima Station from Yamagata. When the Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa" arrives from Yamagata, it enters platform 14. Then, to continue toward Tokyo, it must cross the outbound tracks bound for Sendai. This is the problem. Even a slight delay will affect other operations The Yamagata Shinkansen is prone to delays due to snow, rain, and collisions with animals. If a delay disrupts the timetable, trains arriving or passing through Fukushima Station on their way to Sendai may collide. This means that trains must wait for the train to depart the platform, causing delays to the Sendai-bound train. If the train passes the Sendai-bound train first, the train already at the platform may be further delayed. This delay not only delays trains arriving from Fukushima to Tokyo, but could also delay trains heading to Tokyo from Kanazawa or Niigata, depending on the circumstances. Also, a seemingly unimportant coupling occurs. The Yamabiko arriving from Sendai crosses the tracks to reach the platform. Since it then couples with the Tsubasa arriving from Yamagata, a restrictive timetable is even necessary to prevent the trains from colliding. Problem Solved! Approach Track So a new "approach track" is being constructed. This will eliminate the need to cross the tracks under any circumstances, further eliminating delays and allowing for more flexible timetables. In the upcoming construction, the track will be hoisted by crane and used to connect the trains. In other words, the new tracks will be laid over the overpass north of the station. A construction official said, "Laying such tracks between the Shinkansen, conventional lines, the Ou Line, and the Tohoku Main Line came with many constraints, so we conducted various technical studies and finally reached a technical conclusion, which is why we're starting construction." It's been 31 years since the Yamagata Shinkansen opened. Behind the scenes, technological advances were also behind the successful start of construction on the approach track. The new track will begin operation in fiscal 2026. This single piece of rail will solve a long-standing problem. Once in operation, the right side of the Shinkansen ticket gate at JR Fukushima Station will be unified with inbound trains heading toward Tokyo, and the left side with outbound trains heading toward Sendai, making it easier to understand. The gradient of the new approach track is also one of the steepest in Japan, making it a point of interest for railway enthusiasts.