Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen
| Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
N700S series near Shin-Omura Station | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | 西九州新幹線 | ||
| Owner | Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (JRTT) | ||
| Locale | Kyushu (Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures) | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 5 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | High-speed rail | ||
| System | Shinkansen | ||
| Services | Kamome | ||
| Operator(s) | JR Kyushu | ||
| Depot(s) | Omura | ||
| Rolling stock | N700S | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 23 September 2022 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 66 km (41 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Minimum radius | 4,000 m (2.5 mi; 13,000 ft) | ||
| Electrification | Overhead line, 25 kV 60 Hz AC | ||
| Operating speed | 260 km/h (162 mph) | ||
| Signalling | Cab signalling | ||
| Train protection system | KS-ATC | ||
| Maximum incline | 3.0% | ||
| |||
The Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen (Japanese: 西九州新幹線, Hepburn: Nishi Kyūshū Shinkansen; lit. 'West Kyushu Shinkansen') is a Japanese high-speed rail line and part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Located in the northwestern part of the island of Kyushu, it is operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) and is informally known as the Nagasaki Shinkansen. The 66-kilometre (41 mi) section between Nagasaki and Takeo-Onsen opened on 23 September 2022 and is the shortest Shinkansen in Japan.
The line is envisioned to ultimately connect Nagasaki and Hakata, linking with both the Kyushu and San’yō Shinkansen lines. However, as of 2025, the route for the section east of Takeo-Onsen toward Hakata via Saga has not been finalized, and construction has not begun.
Until any extension opens, the Relay Kamome limited express operates between Hakata and Takeo-Onsen, providing a cross-platform connection to the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen. Despite only part of the line being completed, the initial section has reduced travel times between Hakata and Nagasaki from about two hours to roughly 90 minutes.