CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY While the most famous name in Japanese bullet train safety is "Dr. Yellow" -- a yellow high-speed diagnostic train that travels on an unpublicized schedule -- the new technology is allowing JR Central to make checks more quickly. Now, the company is even developing an image-recognition system to replace in-person inspections by workers.
According to JR Central, two
On the route spanning just under 1,200 kilometers, the trains are used to inspect rails, overhead wires and signals. But with inspections only carried out about once every 10 days, the company felt the need to find ways to conduct more frequent checks that can catch signs of irregularities earlier.
To that end, JR Central developed scaled-down observation equipment and installed it on its working N700S series shinkansen, the newest trains in its fleet.
Since
With six trains currently using the technology, the company says it is able to devise fine-tuned and timely repair plans. Three N700S series trains have also been outfitted with a system to check overhead wires and automatic train control signals.
Among the efficiencies achieved, the measures have helped cut down once-monthly checks by workers. An official at JR Central said the system "carries out its observations to the level of accuracy we require."
But even with the extra provisions, there are still many inspections that continue to be carried out by hand and eye, while still others require the experience of
JR Central says it is continuing to look into new ways to have working trains perform safety checks. It believes the image-recognition technology in development should be ready in around five years.
==Kyodo
© Kyodo News International, Inc., source
