Newly Launched 'GV/SL Gunma Yokokawa' Tourist Train Suffers Breakdown on First Day of Service
The tourist train "GV/SL Gunma Yokokawa," which had just begun service on July 19, experienced a vehicle breakdown on the morning of the same day, leading to the suspension of service on the Shin'etsu Main Line between Annaka and Yokokawa. According to JR East's Takasaki Branch, it was announced that "due to the vehicle breakdown, the GV/SL Gunma Yokokawa train service between Annaka and Yokokawa, and the SL/GV Gunma Yokokawa train service between Yokokawa and Takasaki have been canceled." Passengers at Annaka Station were asked to disembark and were busy making alternative arrangements, such as transferring to local trains returning towards Takasaki. Posts on social media indicate that the breakdown likely occurred in the D51 498 steam locomotive, which was pulling the train. Numerous eyewitness accounts reported issues such as "unreleased brakes" (a state where brakes are not disengaged, preventing the driving wheels from rotating) immediately af...