By TORU SAITO/ Staff Writer
October 2, 2022 at 15:06 JST
TADAMI, Fukushima Prefecture--A popular rail line stretching across Fukushima and Niigata prefectures that is renowned for its breathtaking natural views resumed full operations 11 years after torrential rains rendered a 27.6-kilometer stretch unusable.
The Tadami Line operated by East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) offers spectacular mountain and river views.
Of the 135.2 km stretch between Aizu-Wakamatsu station in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, and Koide station in Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture, 27.6 km of track was knocked out of service after torrential rains in July 2011 washed away three bridges.
A memorial ceremony was held in Tadami on Oct. 1 by the Fukushima prefectural government to mark the full restoration of service between Tadami station in Tadami and Aizu-Kawaguchi station in Kaneyama, also in the prefecture.
Passengers came from all over Japan to mark the occasion and board a special train, creating a celebratory mood as local residents cheered them on as the train passed along the route.
However, the first regular train from Aizu-Wakamatsu station had to be stopped due to a train car malfunction, resulting in some cancellations and delays.
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Railway fans shoot videos and photos of a train in Kaneyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on Oct. 1, which marked the full restoration of services on JR East’s Tadami line. (Koichiro Yoshida)
