東日本旅客鉄道株式会社

On February 3, 2026, the Kanto Transport Bureau issued administrative guidance to East Japan Railway Company (JR East) regarding incidents affecting railway safety and stable transportation. These included a power outage on January 16, 2026, causing prolonged train delays on the Yamanote Line, and a wire disconnection at Ueno Station on January 30, 2026, leading to similar delays on the Joban Line. Additionally, on February 2, 2026, smoke from an escalator at Hatchobori Station on the Keiyo Line caused temporary service suspension, impacting many passengers. JR East is warned to investigate the underlying causes, take measures to prevent recurrence, and report these actions promptly in writing.

JR East was issued an administrative guidance by the Kanto Transport Bureau on February 3, 2026, concerning incidents that affected the safety and stable operation of the railway. These incidents include a power outage on January 16, 2026, which led to prolonged train suspensions on the Yamanote Line, and a wire disconnection at Ueno Station on January 30, 2026, causing long-term suspensions on the Joban Line. The bureau also noted a smoke incident from an escalator at Yachōbori Station on February 2, 2026, which temporarily halted operations and affected many passengers. JR East is warned to investigate the underlying causes, take measures to prevent recurrence, and report these actions promptly in writing.

On January 16, 2026, at approximately 3:50 AM, a power outage at Tamachi Substation caused prolonged service suspensions on the Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, and Tokaido Line, resulting in transportation disruptions. When service was temporarily resumed on the Keihin-Tohoku Line, many passengers experienced health issues. The cause was reported to be related to nighttime construction work. The Kanto Transportation Bureau issued administrative guidance to East Japan Railway Company, warning them to investigate the underlying causes, take measures to prevent recurrence, and ensure the safety and stability of railway operations. The company is also asked to verify the appropriateness of recovery and operational decisions, as well as passenger rescue and information dissemination, and to report promptly on the measures implemented. The legal basis for the guidance is the Railway Business Act.

On January 16, 2026, at approximately 3:50 AM, a power outage at Tamachi Substation caused prolonged service suspensions on the Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, and Tokaido Line, among others. The incident also led to numerous passengers experiencing health issues after the temporary resumption of service on the Keihin-Tohoku Line. The cause was initially reported as a power outage due to nighttime construction work. The Kanto Transport Bureau has warned JR East to investigate the root causes, including underlying factors, and to take measures to prevent recurrence, ensuring the safety and stability of railway transportation. JR East is also instructed to verify the appropriateness of recovery operations, the decision to resume service, passenger rescue efforts, and information dissemination, and to report these measures in writing promptly.

Following the nationwide directive issued on September 12, 2024, to railway operators for emergency inspections of train wheel axles, East Japan Railway Company reported that between 2008 and 2017, it used wheel axles that deviated from regulations and altered work records. An audit by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism confirmed these facts. Such record modifications are considered to fundamentally undermine safety mechanisms and are unacceptable. The ministry has shared safety information with all railway operators and expressed regret that these issues were not reported promptly. The company is advised to review its safety management system, ensure proper information sharing, and establish mechanisms for immediate reporting of similar issues.

On January 23, 2024, starting around 9:58 AM, trains on the Tohoku, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines were suspended for an extended period, significantly affecting passengers. The JR East company was issued an administrative guidance warning regarding this transportation disruption. The warning emphasizes the need to investigate the underlying causes, including factors behind the disruption, implement measures to prevent recurrence, and ensure the safety and stability of railway transportation. Additionally, during recovery operations, an employee was injured by electric shock, which hindered the recovery work. JR East is instructed to verify the appropriateness of the recovery procedures and take appropriate actions based on the verification results. The company is also required to promptly report in writing on the measures taken. The enforcement action is based on the Railway Business Act.

On August 5, 2023, at approximately 21:24, a train operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) collided with an electrification pole inside Ofuna Station on the Tokaido Line, causing injuries to passengers and crew members. As a result, train operations on the Tokaido Line, Yokosuka Line, Negishi Line, and others were suspended for extended periods, and many passengers required assistance to disembark. This incident significantly impacted users. The Kanto Transport Bureau issued an administrative guidance to JR East, urging thorough investigation into the causes, including underlying factors, and implementation of measures to prevent similar accidents. The guidance also calls for review of responses to passengers and passengers' safety following the incident, with prompt written reporting of measures taken. The incident underscores the importance of ensuring railway safety and stable transportation.

Between November 8 and 11, 2021, the Japan Railway Company (JR East) underwent a safety audit conducted by the Kanto Transport Bureau. The audit revealed issues requiring improvement, notably the lack of tower prevention measures on train tracks and overhead wire supports at Jinbohara Station and Gunma Yawata Station, as specified in Article 7 of the Electrical Equipment Implementation Standards. The company is instructed to investigate the underlying causes, take appropriate management measures, and report the corrective actions by February 14, 2022. This guidance is issued under the Railway Technical Standards Ordinance.