The Shizuoka gubernatorial election campaign has officially begun, and all eyes are on how the future of the delayed maglev train project will be affected. The completion of the maglev line promises to drastically reduce travel time between Tokyo and Osaka, potentially cutting it down to just an hour. However, plans have hit a roadblock as outgoing Governor Heita Kawakastu and his supporters have raised environmental concerns about a key riverbed crucial for local agriculture.
Previously scheduled for completion by 2027, the maglev line has faced setbacks in Shizuoka, leading to JR Central abandoning their plans earlier this year. With Kawakatsu’s resignation, there are hopes for a new leader to step in and revive the project. This change in leadership has also sparked optimism among investors, with JR Central’s stock price seeing a slight uptick.