Nagasaki Inasayama Slope Car to resume service in late September

The Nagasaki Inasayama Slope Car, a key tourist transport connecting the mid-mountain parking area to the summit observatory, is scheduled to resume operations in stages starting in late September. The service has been suspended since April 5 following a series of emergency stops and an accident in March where a passenger in her 70s suffered a fracture after falling inside the vehicle.

Investigations revealed that the primary cause of the malfunctions was premature wear of the trolley wires that supply electricity to the vehicles. While these components typically have a lifespan of approximately 10 years, they required replacement after only about six years.

To enhance safety and reduce mechanical strain, the city will implement several changes: - Operating speeds will be reduced from 80 meters per minute to 60 meters per minute. - The number of trips will be decreased, with daytime service moving from three trips per hour to two, and nighttime service moving from four to three. - Interior handrails will be doubled from eight to 16 locations. - Bilingual (Japanese and English) announcements will be made to ensure passengers are seated or holding handrails before departure.

One vehicle is expected to resume service toward the Nagasaki Port side by the end of September, while the second vehicle is scheduled to resume service toward the Fukuda side by the end of October.