花火の夜だけ開く“秘密の通路”　JR長岡駅の混雑をさばく舞台裏【長岡花火】

"Before I knew it, I was already on the train—" Every year, the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Display, one of Japan's largest, lights up the night sky with magnificent fireworks. The 360,000 paid seats prepared for spectators sell out instantly. Immediately after the fireworks end, JR Nagaoka Station is filled with a massive number of spectators heading home. Normally, the station has approximately 22,000 users per day. How does JR manage to alleviate the massive congestion caused by so many times that number of people concentrating in just a few hours, and how do they safely transport the spectators? We investigated the "secret mechanisms" that only operate on the night of the Nagaoka fireworks and the behind-the-scenes operations of transportation. ■ The "Secret Door" and "Underground Passage" that only open on the night of the fireworks To avoid the massive congestion, there is a special route at Nagaoka Station that appears "only once a year." A "temporary ticket gate" for the Shinkansen opens, connecting to the parking lot next to the station by opening a door to a service passage that is normally inaccessible. Furthermore, they've mobilized "Platform 1," which normally doesn't see passenger trains, and the "underground passage" used before the elevated tracks were built, thoroughly dispersing spectator traffic based on their destinations. ■ A Puzzle-like Schedule of 147 Extra Trains and a 200-Person Staffing System A total of 147 extra trains, including both Shinkansen and conventional lines, are scheduled for the two days of the fireworks. To avoid disrupting regular train schedules, the operations staff meticulously assemble the drivers and trains within the limited tracks and time, like a puzzle. On the day of the event, more than 200 station staff—ten times the usual number—will be on hand to provide guidance. ⚠️【For Viewers This Year】 The launch time for the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival's signature "Phoenix Fireworks for Reconstruction Prayer" has been changed to 8:45 PM this year, 30 minutes later than last year. JR warns that "if you view the fireworks with the same mindset as last year, you risk missing your reserved Shinkansen or the last train." Please check the train schedule carefully in advance and allow ample time for your journey.