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Rare Power Outage Cripples Tokyo’s Busiest JR Lines During Morning Rush

Investigators are examining a possible link to a transformer fire near Tamachi.

Overview

  • The outage was detected around 3:50 a.m., halting the Yamanote Line’s inner and outer loops, the entire Keihin-Tohoku Line, and sections of the Tokaido Line.
  • A fire was reported near Tamachi just before 8 a.m., with flames seen from a trackside transformer and the blaze extinguished within about 30 minutes.
  • Damage to equipment in the Tamachi area prolonged suspensions beyond firefighting, complicating restoration efforts through the late morning.
  • JR East said services were expected to resume from about 1 p.m. local time, with residual delays anticipated across the network.
  • Passengers were assisted off a stranded Keihin-Tohoku train and escorted along the tracks, and officials reported no injuries as evacuations proceeded safely.