Japan's transportation ministry has approved a plan by the Central Japan Railway Company to delay the start of its magnetically levitated train service from the initial scheduled of "2027" to "2027 or later."

The company decided on December 14 to make the change for the section between Tokyo's Shinagawa and Nagoya and filed for the change with the transportation ministry.

The ministry approved the change on Thursday. The head of the ministry's Railway Bureau, Murata Shigeki, handed over a permit to the railway company president, Niwa Shunsuke.

The delay is due to an objection from Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, which is along the train's route. The prefecture has not allowed the start of tunnel construction within its boundary, saying the project may cause a decline in water levels of a major river and have an adverse effect on the ecological system in the alpine area within the prefecture.

The railway company has had all plans necessary for tunnel construction approved by the ministry, but it has no way of knowing when the maglev train service will start due to the prefecture's objection.

Niwa told reporters that the permit does not make matters easier for his company, as it is still unable to provide a new schedule for the start of train service. He said the company will continue working hard toward an early launch of operation, while it engages in open communications with the prefecture.