Train Derails After Collision with Car on New Year's Day, Disrupting Major JR Line
Around 2:20 PM on January 1, 2026, a train collided with a passenger car at a level crossing on the JR Tohoku Line (Utsunomiya Line) in Shin-Shiraoka 7-chome, Shiraoka City, Saitama Prefecture, causing the train to derail. This accident has led to the suspension of services on both inbound and outbound lines between Tokyo and Utsunomiya, affecting numerous passengers early in the New Year. The driver of the passenger car involved in the accident was a 67-year-old man. He was temporarily trapped inside the vehicle but was rescued conscious after emergency efforts. Fortunately, there were no injuries among the train's passengers or crew, who were safely disembarked at Shin-Shiraoka Station. The accident has caused widespread disruptions, including the cancellation of multiple trains such as the "Shimousa-go," which operates directly from the Musashino Line to the Utsunomiya Line. On X (formerly Twitter), passengers planning to return home or go New Year's shopping expre...