The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), decided Monday to reconsider the route of the planned Hokuriku Shinkansen section between Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture and Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka Prefecture.

The existing plan was adopted by the then LDP-Komeito coalition in 2016 and calls for the route to run through the Fukui city of Obama and Kyoto Station in Kyoto Prefecture, but has faced opposition from some in Kyoto due to environmental and fiscal concerns.

The LDP-JIP ruling bloc decided to examine seven options proposed by the JIP, also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai, in addition to the existing plan.

Following the decision, the transport ministry is expected to abandon the current plan to start construction on the extended section in fiscal 2026.

It is unusual for ruling parties to reconsider an already decided shinkansen plan.

The ruling bloc plans to hold hearings with municipalities along the proposed routes from early next year. It will work to select the best route based partly on a cost-effectiveness analysis to be calculated by the ministry.