DETAILS have emerged of a recent attempt to sabotage the Tokaido shinkansen. Maintenance staff working on the track one day at the end of April found that 25 rail fastening bolts had been removed from a section of track on the Nagoya - Shin Osaka route between Maibara and Gifu Hashima. All but one had been taken from the outer rail of a curve.
New bolts were quickly installed and services were restored soon after 08.30 that morning. Investigators found that a fence had been cut close to the location of the damage and recovered a car jack and wrench from the scene. Indications were that the perpetrator was familiar with maintenance procedures. Reports indicate that JR had been alerted to the possibility of sabotage by anonymous letters. Fortunately, no harm was done. o
