Shimizu Tunnel
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| Shimizu Tunnel | |
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| Entrance of Shin-Shimizu tunnel. | |
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Line | Jōetsu Line |
| Location | Gunma and Niigata Prefectures, Japan |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1931 |
| Owner | |
| Operator(s) | JR East |
| Technical | |
Shimizu Tunnel (清水トンネル Shimizu-tonneru?) is a railroad tunnel in Gunma and Niigata Prefectures of Japan, operated by JR East Jōetsu Line. The name originates from the Shimizu mountain pass nearby. There are three tunnels near each other, which are the Shimizu tunnel, the Shin-Shimizu tunnel, and the Dai-Shimizu tunnel.
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[edit] Shimizu tunnel
The Shimizu tunnel is the oldest of the three, opened in 1931[1] after nine years of construction. The length of the tunnel is 9,702 m, and has a single track. Because of technical difficulties at the time, a spiral was built, with a diameter of 800 m.[2] This tunnel was the longest in Japan at the time.[3]
The construction improved the journey time between Niigata and Tokyo, decreasing it by 4 hours since trains no longer needed to go through the Usui Pass.[4] Because the tunnel was too long to be suitable for steam locomotives, the tracks in and around the tunnel were electrified from the beginning.
[edit] Shin-Shimizu tunnel
The Shin-Shimizu tunnel was made in 1967 to make the line double track, because of a high demand of transportation on the Joetsu line. The tunnel is 13,500 m long.
[edit] Dai-Shimizu tunnel
In 1978, the Dai-Shimizu tunnel was completed. This tunnel was dug for the Joetsu Shinkansen that was to be completed in 1982. This tunnel was the world's longest tunnel at 22,200 m[5]. During the construction, there was a fire, which caused large amount of smoke to occur in the tunnel. Sixteen workers died from carbon monoxide poisoning.[6][7] When this tunnel was completed, the time between Niigata and Tokyo went down to approximately one hour and forty minutes, three hours faster than using the Joetsu line.[3]
Also, when this tunnel was built, natural water was found during construction, and is sold in bottles.[8]
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