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