Japan Railway Research Articles

Use of Large Format Photographs on the Research of Early Railways in Japan

Use of Large Format Photographs on the Research of Early Railways in Japan

Method for Harmonic Suppression on Power Grid in East Japan Railway Company

Method for Harmonic Suppression on Power Grid in East Japan Railway Company

On The Joint Use Of High-Speed And Conventional Railway Lines

From the moment of commissioning of the first high-speed specialized railways (HSR) in Japan and as a result of more than 50 years of historical development of high-speed passenger railway traffic in different countries, currently, there are several options for its development: first, construction of new highways for the movement of specialized rolling stock, secondly, by reconstructing of the existing railway lines with more technical parameters for higher speed. In scientific publications the issues of justification of the construction of a new HSR are widely covered, as well as reconstruction of existing lines, but at the same time, the problem of definition of efficiency of use of HSR and conventional lines, according to the authors, at least Russian transport science has not been studied enough. In the article some results of the sharing study are presented specialized high-speed railways and reconstructed for more high speeds of passenger trains in existing railway lines of lines’. The question of definition from the economic point of view of costs is considered, depending on parameters such as distance between high-speed trains on the lines reconstructed under high-speed movement, and the cost of passenger-hour, reflecting the duration of passengers on the road.

<b>Method for Simulating the Impact of Runoff-inundation / Short Localized Downpours in the Vicinity of Railway Tracks</b>

The recent rise in short, localized high-intensity torrential rainfall events leading to flooding from rivers, has generated a growing number of disasters affecting urban areas. Japan's railways restrict train operations according to precipitation and river water levels, however, these traffic control methods have not yet been adapted to cope with such short, intense downpours. A real-time rainfall runoff-flooding simulation method, which takes into account predicted rainfall therefore needs to be developed. This paper reports on evaluation results obtained to validate a simulation method.

Investigation of site amplification factors for S- and P-waves from spectral inversions in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan—for application to earthquake early warnings

We performed spectral inversions using ground motion data observed by K-NET, KiK-net, SK-net, and the earthquake observation network of the East Japan Railway Company in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan, to evaluate the effects of site amplification factors of both S- and P-waves for the future use of an on-site earthquake early warning system based on predicted S-wave amplitudes from observed P-wave amplitudes. The source and path effects from the inversions were similar to those estimated by previous studies. The spatial distributions of the site amplification factors of the S- and P-waves depend on the geological conditions, especially for the S-waves. The site amplification factors of the S- and P-waves nearly agree with those calculated with a 1D reverberation theory using existing velocity models from KiK-net. The site amplification ratios of the S-waves to the P-waves show a decrease in the amplitudes at frequencies greater than 2–5 Hz, especially on the plateaus and in the coastal areas covered with thick soft layers because the site amplification factors of the S-waves are small in this frequency range and those of the P-waves are nearly constant over the entire frequency range. Further, the remarkable peaks of the site amplification factors for the S-waves are preserved in the site amplification ratios of the S-waves to the P-waves at sites in the valleys and on the boundaries between the plateaus and the lowlands.

Safety Culture in High-Speed Railways and the Importance of Top Management Decisions

Safety is a central issue that challenges decision makers during the planning and implementation of high-speed railways (HSR), and appropriate systems should be in place to ensure safe performance during operations. To contribute toward the capacity-building efforts in countries importing HSR technology, we highlight the importance of a rather rarely discussed but inarguably essential factor, i.e., the role of top management in improving the safety culture of organizations. We adopt a multi-dimensional dynamic framework to assess the present state of the safety culture at two railway companies—Indian Railways and the East Japan Railway Company. Interviews with senior officials from the two organizations were conducted to assess the current state of their safety cultures using the adopted framework consisting of 11 tangible and seven intangible aspects of safety culture categorized into five levels. Our aim is to develop temporal profiles of the safety culture for each organization and to reveal the underlying dynamics and associated challenges in changing the safety culture. However, preliminary results highlighting the current state of the safety culture for the two organizations, when juxtaposed, reveals opportunities for improvement for Indian Railways. Detailed discussions using examples obtained from the interviews are then used to illustrate the importance of sustained efforts from top leadership in developing a positive safety culture. We conclude that dynamics related to safety culture are also affected by other components of the system such as organizational structure, training system, etc. Hence, an integrated approach considering the dynamic interactions between technology, human resources, management, and safety culture is deemed necessary to both analyze the current safety performance and design new management policies.

Regional Railway Commercial Sustainability:A Case Study of Third Sector Railway Companies Separated from the East Japan Railway as an Inter-Regional Railway Network

Regional Railway Commercial Sustainability:A Case Study of Third Sector Railway Companies Separated from the East Japan Railway as an Inter-Regional Railway Network

Correlation of the slope of the initial part of P-wave envelope, hypocenter depth and plate boundary

We investigated correlation of the slope of the initial part of P-wave envelope, hypocenter depth and plate boundaries by B-Δ method, which is used to determine epicentral distances in the Japan Meteorological Agency and Japan Railway Company earthquake early warning (EEW) systems. The Tohoku region was chosen as the study region. 19,899 strong motion data for 265 events with magnitudes in the range from 5.0 to 7.6 from KiK-net (Kiban Kyoshin network) had been collected. The coefficient c to investigate is obtained from the linear relation between logB and logΔ. Compared to the hypocenter depth, the coefficients c of events is more likely to decide by the spatial correlation of the plate boundaries. The differences are likely to be due to earthquake characteristics, since deeper events in the subducting slabs the structural effects are likely to be larger than or comparable to those for shallow crust events.

Examining the Provision of Railway Transit Information to Foreign Visitors in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and Strategies for Improvement

Well known for its extensive network and state-of-the-art technology, the Japanese railway system has become a must-see attraction for foreign tourists and yet has not ceased to perplex them. Despite the growing use of multilingual signs, real-time train information, and information centers equipped with English-speaking staff, visitors from abroad could still find themselves lost when navigating the railway system. This research aims to examine the provision of railway transit information to foreign visitors in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, and focuses on the railway system of Japan Railway (JR) East—the largest railway company in Japan and a global railway leader—as a case study. We identified four areas of research that are critical to the ease of use of railway systems, namely wayfinding, route planning, ticketing, and staff assistance. We examined the factors contributing to successful information provision and quantified the influences of sign design on the cognitive cost of wayfinding through interviews and surveys. We found that sign legibility, inadequate explanation for those with little background knowledge, and station staff’s language skills were pressing concerns among foreign passengers, and transit information needs to be addressed systematically. This research will contribute to the understanding of tourists’ use of public transit and provide a practical guide to improving the usability of urban railway systems not only in Japan but also worldwide.

The CLIOSjre Process: A Flexible Multicriteria, Multistakeholder Decision Framework for Transportation Planning under Uncertainty

Transportation investments determine the long-term success or failure of a transportation provider. It is therefore vital for decision makers to have an in-depth understanding of the alternatives available before they choose to invest. However, often, the process of evaluating alternatives is lengthy, costly, and contentious, particularly for transportation infrastructure investment decisions that are large, complex, and interconnected with other economic development and sustainability goals. Furthermore, transportation investments involve many decision makers, each with different priorities and expertise. Therefore, there is a need for transparent, accurate, flexible, and practicable decision-making aids that can handle the complex challenges facing the decision-making bodies of transportation providers and planning organizations. This paper introduces a new decision aid—the CLIOSjre Process—that combines insights from multicriteria decision analysis, multistakeholder negotiation theory, and uncertainty analysis. The CLIOSjre Process helps decision makers compare multiple alternatives across multiple objectives and seek an informed collective transportation investment decision. Unlike other multicriteria decision aids, the CLIOSjre Process accounts for differences of opinion among decision makers and is designed to facilitate constructive negotiation among them. Finally, the CLIOSjre Process formally accounts for sources of uncertainty inherent in these decisions. In this way, the CLIOSjre Process provides a unique and flexible framework for investment analysis that can adapt to changes in transportation alternatives, decision-maker priorities, and emerging real-world conditions. The usefulness of this new decision aid is illustrated for the East Japan Railway Company’s consideration of a transportation investment opportunity in high-speed rail development on the Northeast Corridor of the United States.

AUTOMATIC RAIL EXTRACTION AND CELARANCE CHECK WITH A POINT CLOUD CAPTURED BY MLS IN A RAILWAY

Abstract. Recently, MLS (Mobile Laser Scanning) has been successfully used in a road maintenance. In this paper, we present the application of MLS for the inspection of clearance along railway tracks of West Japan Railway Company. Point clouds around the track are captured by MLS mounted on a bogie and rail position can be determined by matching the shape of the ideal rail head with respect to the point cloud by ICP algorithm. A clearance check is executed automatically with virtual clearance model laid along the extracted rail. As a result of evaluation, the accuracy of extracting rail positions is less than 3 mm. With respect to the automatic clearance check, the objects inside the clearance and the ones related to a contact line is successfully detected by visual confirmation.

Who Is Responsible? A Man With Dementia Wanders From Home, Is Hit by a Train, and Dies

The impact of dementia and Alzheimer's disease extends far beyond the healthcare needs of the person with dementia. As the disease progresses, individuals with dementia often require ongoing formal or informal care for their basic daily routine because of behavior changes and continuing loss of cognitive function. Most of the care for people with dementia takes place at home, and the unpaid, informal caregivers are often spouses or other relatives. Providing long-term informal care at home for someone with dementia is psychologically, physically, and financially draining. The tragedy described in this case elucidates the far-reaching societal impact of dementia care and the implicit health policy considerations.In 2007, a 91-year-old Japanese man with dementia was in the care of his wife when he wandered from home, was hit by a train, and died, immediately affecting the Central Japan Railway Company operations and, subsequently, legal practice as well as Japanese elder care policy. The railway sued the man's wife and son for negligence and lost revenue, winning both trials at the local and district courts. This ruling shocked families and caregivers in Japan, where care for elderly parents traditionally falls on the oldest son, and brought attention to the complex issues related to dementia care. A decade later, we revisit this case to provoke a renewed dialogue about the matrix of responsibilities and liabilities associated with caregiving; to illuminate the unmet needs of the person with dementia, as well as his or her informal caregivers; and the financial implications related to long-term care policy. We close with 2 practical suggestions which preserve the dignity of the individual and provide reassurance for caregivers.

Meet the First Authors.

Meet the First Authors.

A Study on Integrated Fares Considering Each Operator’s Financially Difference in Urban Railway in Japan

A Study on Integrated Fares Considering Each Operator’s Financially Difference in Urban Railway in Japan

Enrichment and Bioavailability of Trace Elements in Soil in Vicinity of Railways in Japan.

This study focuses on the concentrations, distribution, pollution levels, and bioavailability of 12 trace elements in soils along 6 different railways in Japan. Three diesel powered railways and three electricity powered railways were chosen as target. Surface soils (<3cm) were collected in vicinity of railways for analysis. Digestion and extraction were performed before concentration and bioavailability analysis. Enrichment factor was applied to investigate contamination levels of selected elements. The mean concentrations of Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, and Pb in soil samples were higher than soil background value in Japan. Concentrations of trace elements in soils along different railway had different characteristics. Horizontal distribution of Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, and Pb in soil samples showed obviously downtrend with distance along railways with high frequency. Concentrations of V, Mn, Fe, and Co were higher in soils along railways which pass through city center. According to principal component analysis and cluster analysis, concentrations of Cu, Zn, Sn, and Pb could be considered as the indicators of soil contamination level along electricity powered trains, whereas indicators along diesel powered trains were not clear. Enrichment factor analysis proved that operation of freight trains had impact on pollution level of Cr, Ni, and Cd. Bioavailability of Mn, Co, Zn, and Cd in soil along electricity-powered railways were higher, and bioavailability of Pb in railways located in countryside was lower. Thus, enrichment and bioavailability of trace elements can be indicators of railway-originated trace elements pollution in soil.

A study of vertical separation in Japanese passenger railways

In recent years, the Japanese railway sector adopted vertical separation in certain circumstances. This research investigated the recent Japanese policies and clarified the characteristics of vertically separated railways in Japan compared with those in Europe. When we consider the current status of Japanese railways where traffic is dense on many lines, the study concludes that a single railway company should manage railway operations as a whole even if the public sector retains ownership of the infrastructure. As one of the lessons learned from European experiences, it appears worthwhile to introduce railway operations based on a public-private contract for more cases in regional rail transport in Japan.

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN JAPAN: A LITERATURE STUDY

In Japan, the transportation system is the lifeblood of the country in order to ease the flow of people, goods, and information, supporting the achievement of optimum economic resources allocation. To that end, the transportation service should be fairly evenly available and affordable purchasing power. This is a literature study, whose main data sources are books, literature, records, and reports that have to do with the subject matter being solved. The results show that Japanese transportation system is very modern, comfortable, secure, punctual, and well-organized, as well as outstanding in service and responsible, so that people use public transport rather than private cars. Transportation in Japan as in other countries includes land, sea, and air transports. On land, there is a transport in the form of excellent trains and become a major transportation in Japan. In addition, there are also subway trains. To connect between islands, especially the four largest islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu) there are ferries as a means of crossing. Also available is a comprehensive international air service through two major airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, as well as foreign airlines based on the operators who fly all over the world. Transportation in Japan is generally accommodated by Japan Railway (JR), the state-owned company JR Bus, JR Train, and others.

일제 강점기 사설철도의 변화와 특징에 관한 연구

본 연구에서는 그간의 연구를 참고하여 연구가 미진한 부분인 조선에 있는 사설철도의 법과 제도 그리고 인력, 보조금의 변화와 함께 사설철도가 가지고 있는 특징을 분석하여 일제강점기의 사설철도의 성격을 살펴보았다. 본 연구를 통해 일제강점기의 조선의 사설철도의 특징은 조선 내에서의 사설철도는 조선 내에서의 간선철도를 보조하는 역할을 하는 국책사업성격의 사설철도의 역할이 컸다는 것이다. 변화과정을 보면 관련법의 개정에 의해 보조율이 증가하였고 일본의 철도정책에 따라 좌우되는 양상을 보였다. 조선의 사설철도 특징은 일본 본토 보다 보조금이 높았으며, 외부자본의존형의 자본조달과 사철종사 임원의 경우도 조선철도국 출신이 많았다. 수익은 국유철도보다 낮아 이는 보조금으로 보전하였다. 이러한 사실을 근거로 조선내의 사설철도는 국책사업과 연관성이 깊은 철도회사였다고 볼 수 있다. 조선 내의 사철회사는 지역의 산업과 연관이 깊었다. 사설철도의 노선 분포를 보면 거의 간선을 보조하는 노선 혹은 산업개발지역과 일치하고 있다. 아울러 사설철도의 성격상 다양한 부대사업을 운영하여 일본국내의 사철의 부대사업으로 수익을 창출하고 철도운영을 해 나가는 사설철도본래의 기능도 가지고 있는 이중적인 성격의 철도라고 할 수 있다. This paper analyzes the under-researched field of the characteristics of th Chosun private railway, such as laws, systems, human resources, and subsidies associated with this railway, in an effort to increase our understanding of these characteristics. It was found that the private railway shared strong identity resemblance with a national project, as it served to assist the roles of the main national railway. General patterns of change of the company indicate that the private railway received increased subsidies consequent to the amendment of a related law and that it was strongly influenced by Japan's railway policies. The private railway system during the Chosun period more subsidies than those administered by Japan, and they tended to depend on fund raising for external capital. A tendency of many board members to be from the Chosun bureau was also noted. Profits in the private railway system were relatively low compared to those of the national railway such that the deficits were supplemented by the subsidies redeived. Based on corroborating examples, the private railway system can be said to have been an organization that had strong connections with national projects. It was especially related to regional industries according to an examination of the distribution of lines, which shows that most assisted the main railway or coincided with regions undergoing industrial development. Typically, northern areas were for resource development while southern areas were for agricultural production and/or passenger transportation. The company carried dual traits as it operated as a subsidiary enterprise for peripheral profit while also playing a role in transportation.

Strong Motion Estimation at West Japan Railway Station Sites along Kinokuni Line during a Scenario Earthquake with MW9.0 along the Nankai Trough based on the SMGA Models considering Local Site Effects

Strong Motion Estimation at West Japan Railway Station Sites along Kinokuni Line during a Scenario Earthquake with <i>M</i>_W9.0 along the Nankai Trough based on the SMGA Models considering Local Site Effects

池袋西口民衆駅の計画と建設

This paper will elucidate the planning and construction process of the Ikebukuro West General Public Station completed in 1951, and will review the 55 stations around the country that were constructed as General Public Stations. It will also classify the stations according to core planning, construction ownership, and division of construction cost burden to evaluate the status of the Ikebukuro West General Public Station, which was planned by Japanese National Railways as a pilot project for developing General Public Stations. During postwar reconstruction, since Japanese National Railways prioritized the devastated rail lines and the establishment of new railcars in order to focus on restoring the decreased transportation capacity, not enough funding was available for rebuilding the railway station buildings, and their thorough reconstruction was thus postponed. Therefore, a method for the smooth reconstruction of railway station buildings using private investment was introduced, whereby the buildings were opened to the public, and businesses such as stores, restaurants, and barbershops were incorporated to increase the convenience of the station to the extent that these businesses would not pose a hindrance to railway passengers. This was the concept of the General Public Station. Until the end of the war, the construction of railway station buildings was generally limited to private railway terminals in major cities. However, the postwar establishment of the General Public Station model allowed railway station buildings to be constructed in regional cities across Japan. The General Public Station model made possible the transition from railway station buildings being constructed at Japanese National Railway stations to railway station buildings being constructed throughout the country. A central figure in the discussion of planning the Ikebukuro West General Public Station is the Japanese National Railway architect Shigeru Ito. Ito developed the concept of General Public Stations within Japanese National Railways. After resigning from his job at Japanese National Railways, he became the vice president of Japan Railway Station Corporation, where he promoted the planning and construction of the Ikebukuro West General Public Station. In addition, the area planned for the construction of the Ikebukuro West General Public Station included the war-damage reconstruction and land readjustment project area, so construction could not be initiated until the re-plotting of the land was confirmed. Therefore, the construction of the Ikebukuro West General Public Station bears a clear relationship to the restoration of land development through re-plotting. Beyond this, this research classifies General Public Stations into two types: “Regional City Type,” “Capital Area Intra-City Transit Terminal Type” and “ Major Inter-City Transit Terminal Type.” The Ikebukuro West General Public Station is classified as a Capital Area Intra-City Transit Terminal Type.