Tokyo-Nagano shinkansen line to be extended to Kanazawa

Does that mean the trains will be running starting that day? Or that they're doing construction?

They will start running that day.

Construction has been going on for years--the extension opens for operation in March 2015.

Thanks Stephen.

This is good news - Kanazawa is a beautiful little town, but it's kind of awkward to get to. Being able to get there by Shinkansen will make it a much easier trip.

I used to live in Fukui City, Fukui 10 years ago and Kanazawa was a 45 min Limited Express ride away. It was always quite difficult getting to Hokuriku. The Tokaido Shinkansen takes you to Maibara and then you change to a Limited Express to Fukui. This still takes about 3.5 hrs + (depending on start point within Tokyo). I wonder if they plan to extend the Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Fukui. If so, that would make the trip to Fukui a bit more manageable. Either way, this is great news. Kanazawa is known as Little Kyoto and has a lot to offer.

Yep, this'll definitely be more convenient--though probably more expensive as well. The flight to Komatsu from Haneda takes less than an hour... but I always prefer the train if I have the time and money.

I wonder if they plan to extend the Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Fukui.

Fukui, and then on to Tsuruga as well, but not until about 2026...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokuriku_Shinkansen

It will also eliminate changing trains in Nagano (about a ten-minute layover wherein everyone runs to the shinkansen tracks) and compete with the airlines and, I think, successfully.

borscht

Actually it's going to be called Hokuriku Shinkansen since the destination had been extended to that region.