SHINKANSEN MAKES EMERGENCY STOP WHEN CARS DISENGAGE EN ROUTE TO TOKYO

TOKYO, Sept 19 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A Shinkansen made an emergency stop on its route between northeastern Japan and Tokyo after its cars became disengaged, JR East, the railway operator, said Thursday.

However, no injuries were reported.

Kyodo News Agency reported that about 320 people were aboard the train running on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line when it came to a stop between Furukawa and Sendai stations in Miyagi Prefecture at 8.10 am.

The separation occurred between Tohoku shinkansen cars and Akita shinkansen cars which were coupled as they share some of the same route.

JR East said it is considering asking passengers to walk to the nearest station. Despite being stopped, the train's air conditioning system is functioning normally.

The Tohoku and Akita shinkansen train cars were connected at Morioka station and were heading to Tokyo when they detached.

No train cars derailed, the railway operator said.

JR East halted all bullet train services between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for inspection.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO