Photo/Illutration A sign at a ticket gate in JR Niigata Station on the afternoon of Jan. 1 reads, “Operation is currently suspended.” (Koki Furuhata)

Air, road and rail transportation remained disrupted mainly in the Hokuriku region on Jan. 2, a day after a series of earthquakes pounded the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture.

East Japan Railway Co. (JR. East) on Jan. 2 suspended morning services on the Joetsu Shinkansen running between Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata stations, and on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between the cities of Nagano and Kanazawa.

The suspensions in Hokuriku Shinkansen could be extended into the afternoon because workers are inspecting tracks, power lines and other facilities for quake damage, JR East said.

West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) said four trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between the prefectural capitals of Toyama and Kanazawa had stopped, stranding about 1,400 passengers on board. But all trains started running again and arrived at the nearest station after 4 a.m.

All Nippon Airways Co. said eight flights to and from Noto and Komatsu airports in Ishikawa Prefecture were canceled on Jan. 2.

The quakes also severely damaged roads.

According to the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, the Kurobe-Kaga and Kashiwazaki-Nishiyama sections of the Hokuriku Expressway　were closed to all traffic because of cracks as of 7:10 a.m. on Jan. 2. Traffic was moving in only one direction on the Nosei-Itoigawa and Shirakawa-go sections.

The Shirakawa-go-Oyabe Tonami Junction of the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway was closed to all traffic.

In Ishikawa Prefecture, roads have been cut off in many areas, and the prefectural government and other authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage.

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