Historical Background

1986

Dec. 10 : Establishment of the RTRI authorized by the Minister of Transport.

1987

Apr. 01 : The RTRI inherited the R&D arm of Japanese National Railways upon its division and privatization.

1990

Nov. 15 : New rolling stock test plant completed.

1991

Mar. 31 : Test Plant E (human science) completed.

1992

Oct. 13 : International railway research seminar on "R&D in World Railway -Today and Tomorrow-" (later developed into WCRR).

1993

Jan. 31 : Brake Test Plant completed.

1996

Jun. 05 : Large-scale low-noise wind tunnel completed.
Jul. 01 : Yamanashi Maglev Test Center opened.
Jul. 01 : Railway Technology Promotion Center opened.

1997

Mar. 21 : First railway design engineer examination administered.

1999

Oct. 19-23 : World Congress on Railway Research 1999 (WCRR '99) held at the RTRI.

2003

Dec. 02 : The world speed record of 581 km/h for a manned train (MLX01) attained on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line.

2004

Nov. 16 : Two-train crossing test at a relative speed of 1026 km/h on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line.

2006

Apr. 26 : Running test of fuelcell railway vehicle succeeded.

2007

Oct. 25 : A battery-driven, energy-recycling light-rail vehicle opened to the Public.

2008

Oct. 31 : Large-scale vibration test machine completed.

2010

Apr. 01 : Inauguration of the Railway International Standards Center