Kyushu Shinkansen set to resume limited service after Kumamoto earthquake

JR Kyushu President 古宮洋二 met with Transport Minister 金子国土交通大臣 and said the company aims to present an overall timetable for restoring the Kyushu Shinkansen by the end of August, although the heavily damaged Kumamoto‑Shin‑Minamata segment is unlikely to reopen within that month.

The Shin‑Minamata to Kagoshima‑Chuo section will begin limited operations on August 7 with reduced train frequencies, while safety checks continue on bridges, roads and other infrastructure damaged by the quake, especially around Yatsushiro and nearby areas.