Photo/Illutration A driver makes a final check before the first train on the JR Nanao Line in Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, departs on Jan. 22. (Taku Hosokawa)

Three weeks after a powerful earthquake severely damaged the JR Nanao Line in Ishikawa Prefecture, services were partially restored on Jan. 22. 

“Reconnecting the rail is a step toward recovery for Ishikawa Prefecture,” the head of West Japan Railway Co. (JR West)’s Nanao railway department told reporters that day. 

He asked for a little more patience as the company works toward a full reopening from the devastating Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake. 

A section spanning 24.7 kilometers between Hakui and Nanao stations reopened on Jan. 22.

The reopening allowed passengers to travel the 65.9-km section between the prefectural capital of Kanazawa and the hard-hit city of Nanao.

Commuters and students heavily rely on the section, with many expressing relief at the resumption.

“Though there are still difficulties, like not being able to use the bath at home, I’m glad things are slowly returning to normal,” said an administrative staff member at a vocational school in Nanao.

During the suspension, there was no other transportation available, such as buses.

At 5:03 a.m. on the day, the first train from Nanao Station departed for Kanazawa Station with one passenger.

The train that left at 5:40 a.m. carried about 10 commuters and students.

A senior at a high school in Kanazawa said, “My family used to drive me halfway to school, so I’m relieved (the Nanao Line) has resumed.”

“The university entrance exam is coming up, so I’ll do my best,” he added.

At Nanao Station, some areas of the platforms were roped off due to cracks.

Severed water supplies also meant the toilets were out of service. JR West set up six temporary toilets near the station’s entrance.

The 5.1-km stretch of the Nanao Line between Nanao and Wakura Onsen stations is still disrupted, with JR West aiming to resume service on it by mid-February.

Noto Railway Co., which operates the 11.2-km section between Wakura Onsen and Noto-Nakajima stations, is planning to restart services by the same time.

However, the company has no clear timeline for the resumption of the 16.8-km section extending to Anamizu Station due to the extent of the damage there.

(This article was written by Yoshito Asakura and Tetsuhiro Toyoshima.)

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