Tokaido Shinkansen to allow reserved seats for extra trains via EX Service

Starting in the spring of 2028, passengers will be able to purchase reserved seats for extra Shinkansen trains operated during natural disasters via the online ‘EX Service’ on the Tokaido Shinkansen line and other routes.

Currently, when typhoons or heavy rains cause schedule disruptions, extra trains are often set up with all seats designated as non-reserved. This has led to issues such as long queues on station platforms. While station windows and ticket machines will still not offer seat reservations for these specific extra trains, JR Central aims to address the issue through its digital platform, noting that reservations via the ‘EX Service’ already account for over 60 percent of bookings.