YOKOHAMA -- The Hakone Tozan Railway, which suffered debilitating damage when the powerful Typhoon No. 19 struck eastern Japan on Oct. 12, held a trial operations run Monday in the town of Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The railway, which has been suspended since the typhoon due to multiple landslides that washed away tracks and other severe damage, hopes to resume full operations on the entire line in late July.
"If the new coronavirus infection has stopped by that time, I want many people to come," a spokesperson of the operator, Hakone Tozan Railway Co., said.
On Monday, the departure bell rang at Hakone-Yumoto Station for the first time in seven months and one of the railway's signature bright-red trains rolled out at around 10 a.m.
Services have been suspended on the 8.9-kilometer stretch between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora stations. During Monday's test run, trains traveled about 3.5 kilometers to and from Ohiradai Station at a pace of about two trains an hour. The company also checked signals and track switches.
According to the company, about 20 landslides occurred between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora stations due to the typhoon. Restoration work has been completed in areas other than the Jakotsu overpass and Osawa Bridge, which were severely damaged.
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