Damage done by the great earthquake disaster of the Hanshin-Awaji district to the Kobe Municipal Subway System and restoration works of the damage

The Kobe Municipal Subway System suffered its first serious damage to underground structures at Shin-nagata Station, Kamisawa Station, and San-nomiya Station, which were struck by disastrous earthquake, and intermediate columns in RC box culvert were damaged. However, almost all facilities indispensable for train operation such as electrical facilities, permanent way, and rolling stock were fortunately not damaged, train service could be resumed as soon as temporary repairs of the earthquake-stricken intermediate columns were finished. Then, reinforcement works of the intermediate columns, which are one of the structural members of frame work, were performed by winding steel plate coverings round them while operating trains for revenue service. After a lapse of about one year, all the restoration works were completed. Examination of the aseismic design of civil engineered structures and railway facilities is now controlled by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers and the Ministry of Transport of Japan respectively.