Japan Railway group companies will continue running shinkansen bullet trains and local trains as much as possible even if information related to the possibility of a Nankai Trough mega-earthquake is released under a new earthquake warning system, as the certainty of the information drops compared to warnings issued based on quake predictions.

The new system of warning the public of possible mega-quakes came into force on Nov. 1, replacing the "warning declaration" system, under which the prime minister would announce if large tremors in the Tokai region were predicted. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is now in charge of releasing information if and when the possibility of a Nankai Trough mega-quake, including large tremors in the Tokai region, increases. Since the information released under the new system is not based on earthquake predictions and therefore more uncertain, however, local bodies and companies in the Tokai area are moving to introduce laxer measures in case such info is released.

Until the new system was introduced, when a Tokai earthquake was predicted local governments and companies in areas expected to be hit by strong shocks and massive tsunami prioritized securing people's safety even if that meant halting services and economic activities. Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Central) and East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), for example, had set rules to limit train operations so that trains would not enter areas predicted to be hit by earthquakes of lower-6 or around the same strength on the 7-stage seismic intensity scale. In the Tokai and southern Kanto regions among other areas, meanwhile, it had been decided that elementary, junior high and high schools would be closed in case of a mega-quake prediction. Chubu Electric Power Co. had a guideline under which operations of its Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in the Shizuoka Prefecture city of Omaezaki would be stopped if such a prediction was announced. Economic losses from these measures were calculated to total roughly 200 billion yen per day.

With the new earthquake information system coming into force, JR Central and JR East are set to continue operating trains, including shinkansen bullet trains, as much as possible even when mega-quake information has been released. The Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education has notified prefectural high schools that classes will be held as usual even when the JMA releases earthquake information. Similarly, the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education has shifted its policy and decided not to call off classes. Chubu Electric, on the other hand, has not decided on response measures for its Hamaoka nuclear plant.

Meanwhile, companies and local bodies in western Japan will also have to work out measures for the new earthquake information system as it covers possible Tonankai and Nankai quakes.

West Japan Railway Co. is poised to incorporate the same rule as JR Central and JR East with the release of earthquake information alone. Shikoku Electric Power Co. will continue operating the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in Ehime Prefecture as tremors from a Nankai Trough earthquake are expected to be far smaller than the maximum level of shocks predicted in its anti-seismic design.

At the same time, there have been concerns over the lack of a unified standpoint on whether residents on the coast should evacuate when quake warning info is released as responses to the announcements are left to the discretion of local bodies and companies. While the central government is set to present guidelines on response measures, local governments are calling on the state to map out the guidelines in a prompt manner.