Four workers died after being hit by a six-car Spacia X express train at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko Line, north of Tokyo, on August 20, 2026, around 10:45 am local time [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The workers were removing weeds on or near the train tracks when struck by the train bound for Asakusa in Tokyo [2, 3, 4].

Emergency services arrived shortly after the collision at about 10:47 am. Three workers were trapped under the train and one was found unconscious on the platform. All four were unconscious before hospital admission and later died, confirmed by fire department officials [1, 2, 3, 6, 7].

Between seven to nine workers, including the four victims, were engaged in the weeding operation at the time. Three of them acted as lookouts along the track and the remaining workers were unharmed. Some reports mention seven workers, while others indicate nine plus one supervisor [4, 8, 9].

The train driver had received a lookout flag signal and sounded the horn before entering Shin-Kanuma Station at about 50 km/h. Despite following designated safety procedures, four workers had not evacuated the tracks before the train’s arrival [8, 9]. Approximately 50 passengers on board were unharmed, and no crew members were injured [3, 4, 8].

Train service on the Tobu Nikko Line between Shin-Kanuma and adjacent stations was suspended or partially suspended after the accident for emergency response and investigation [1, 4, 8]. Japan’s rail network is known for its strong safety record, and fatal collisions involving workers on tracks remain extremely rare [1, 2, 3, 7]. The country's deadliest rail accident in this century occurred in 2005 in Amagasaki, killing 107 [3].

A train passenger described hearing a loud rumbling noise and experiencing an emergency stop with sudden braking that made it impossible to stand. Passengers were held on the train for a period while the source of the noise was investigated [2].

As of today, investigations continue into the exact circumstances that led to the failure of safety measures preventing the workers from evacuating. Tobu Railway and authorities disclosed that the train speed entering the station was approximately 50 km/h, with proper lookout signals given [9].