Japan is preparing for a momentous change in its transportation system by implementing the Shinkansen, a driverless bullet train, starting in the mid-2030s. This ambitious project is led by East Japan Railway (JR East) and aims to solve some of the country’s most pressing challenges, such as labor shortages and population decline.
From 2028, JR East plans to introduce partially automated trains on some routes, although conductors will still be present in the cab. By the middle of the next decade, however, trains are expected to operate fully automatically on the Joetsu Shinkansen linewhich connects Tokyo with Niigata. The maximum speed of these trains is 275 kilometers per hour, but on other lines bullet trains reach up to 300 km/h ( 186 mph).
Driverless Shinkansen train, Japan’s solution to the future
This step towards rail automation rail automation is partly in response to the demographic crisis in Japan, which has the second oldest population in the world. The declining population has led to labor shortages in various sectors, and JR East is seeking to create a more sustainable and efficient system with this technology.
The year 2025 will be key, as the company plans to begin tests with driverless trains on out-of-service tracks. These tests will be the first step towards a fully automated rail system system capable of adapting to Japan’s social challenges.
With this innovation, Japan wants to solve internal problems and seeks to remain a world reference in railway technology. According to JR East, the implementation of driverless trains will improve efficiency and also contribute to reducing operating costs, ensuring a more sustainable future for the country’s public transportation.
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Source: Tech Xplore
Photo: Shutterstock
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