Heavy snow disrupts transport system across Japan

The coldest winter snap of the season resulted in heavy snow that disrupted trains, domestic flights and other transportation systems across Japan.

On January 24, heavy snowfall suspended or delayed around 600 trains, including limited-express runs, affecting around 140,000 people, according to West Japan Railway Co., JR West, said on January 25.

Trains were stuck on the Kyoto, Biwako and Sanyo lines from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on January 24, according to JR West. Passengers disbarked and walked along the railway tracks to nearby stations.

The railroad switches at several stations on the Kyoto and Biwako lines didn't work properly, the company said.

JR West said on 4: 25 a.m. that it would suspend operations of 83 limited-express trains on several lines.

East Japan Railway Co. JR East said operations of the Yamagata Shinkansen Line between Fukushima and Shinjo stations would be shut down throughout the day on January 25.

JR East will suspend bullet train services between Tokyo and Fukushima stations.

Air travel has been hampered by the snow.

All Nippon Airways Co. ANA canceled 85 flights on January 25. They included all flights to and from Wakkanai, Hakodate and Odate-Noshiro airports in Hokkaido and Akita Prefecture, and some flights to and from airports on the Sea of Japan side of the nation, including in the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions.

Around 4,100 passengers were affected by the canceled Jan. 24, ninety-four ANA flights.

The Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, closed on January 25 at 9 a.m. for snow-removal work.

Twenty-three domestic flights were called off due to the runway closure or the effects of snowfall around the nation, and the runway was supposed to be reopened after 10 a.m.

On Jan. 25, a 47 kilometer traffic jam had formed on the Meishin Expressway bound for Nagoya starting from the Setahigashi Interchange in Shiga Prefecture, West Nippon Expressway Co. said.