Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu, TSE: 9142) has told investors when it expects to reopen rail lines suspended after the July 28, 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, updating the notice it issued on July 31.
The Kyushu Shinkansen section between Kumamoto Station and Shin-Minamata Station is scheduled to resume service on September 18. The company warns that aftershock activity could still push that date back.
Even once trains are running, the line will not be back to normal. Speed restrictions on part of the route mean some services between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo will be cancelled or rescheduled. The Hakata-Kumamoto stretch, unaffected by the damage, keeps its pre-earthquake frequency and timetable.
| Route | Affected section | Resumption target |
|---|---|---|
| Kyushu Shinkansen | Kumamoto Station to Shin-Minamata Station | September 18, 2026 |
| Kagoshima Main Line | Uto Station to Yatsushiro Station | Mid-October 2026 (aim) |
Conventional rail is running further behind. JR Kyushu is aiming for a mid-October reopening of the Kagoshima Main Line between Uto and Yatsushiro.
What the company still cannot tell shareholders is what any of this costs. JR Kyushu says the earthquake's damage total and its effect on earnings remain under investigation, and it will promptly disclose further details if timely disclosure becomes necessary. Until then, both resumption dates are targets rather than commitments, subject to revision if the ground keeps moving.