>>1901604>Why is it taking so long to build?80% of the 211.5km route between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo will be tunneled and there are seven tunnels that are longer than 10km (with another one that comes close to it)
>Is it really needed?Probably not depending on who you ask, IFF they really could get the travel time from Tokyo to Sapporo to around 5 hours I wonder if it will actually take shares away from the Tokyo/Chitose air route
>Is it controversial?Given how the local lines will be downloaded to the Prefecture Government and the downloaded portion isn't sustainable (aka loses money), the main concern is how will freight be handled since the section between Oshamambe and Goryoukaku is an important portion of the line and JR Freight seems to be not interested in taking over that portion.
