Disruption on the Rail Route Leading to Osaka Expo Location Temporarily Halts
The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka experienced a temporary suspension of its sole train route on Wednesday night due to a power outage. The incident occurred on the Osaka Metro's Chuo Line, the only direct train service connecting the city center to Yumeshima, the artificial island hosting the Expo.
The power outage was caused by a power failure affecting the rail that supplies electricity to the train cars. Investigations suggest that the failure may have been due to a short circuit caused by iron powder or moisture adhering to a sheet covering the rail joints.
The train service resumed between Yumeshima Station and Cosmosquare Station around 10:10 p.m., but entry to Yumeshima was limited due to overcrowding. Approximately 30,000 people were around the Expo venue when the train service was suspended, and many visitors were forced to spend the night at the venue.
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, the event organizer, remained in charge throughout the incident. The Chuo Line, operated by Osaka Metro Co., was fully halted around 9:30 p.m.
The severity of the health issues caused by the power outage is unknown, but the Osaka Municipal Fire Department reported that 36 people were taken to the hospital due to heatstroke and other health issues. The rail line operator did not specify if the power outage was related to the temporary suspension of the train service on Wednesday night.
Despite the inconvenience, the resumption of the train service did not affect the visitors who spent the night at the Expo venue. The organisers are working to ensure a smooth operation of the Expo and the train services in the coming days.
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