Smoke reported at Bicchu Hirose substation in Takahashi, with Hakubi Line suspended

What happened

Smoke was reported at the Bicchu Hirose substation in Matsuyama, Takahashi city, at about 5:20 a.m. on 28 May 2026. A local report described a fire at the substation. Services on the Hakubi Line were suspended for about half a day. A tree was reported to have fallen onto overhead lines between Hokoku and Ikura, and the same report said damage to those lines may have been the cause. It is not reported whether equipment was damaged, whether anyone was injured, or when supply at the substation was restored.

Contributing factors

A fallen tree on overhead lines was reported as a possible cause. The available report does not confirm that this caused the substation fire.

Lessons learned

1. Vegetation near overhead lines can bring down conductors and should be managed before it fails.
2. A fault on a railway supply can disrupt both the electrical plant and train services, so isolation and transport contingency plans should be ready.
3. Early reports may confirm smoke before the cause is known, so a suspected cause should be checked before it is treated as established.

Source

sanyonews.jp