The 8th RTRI Seminar Refers to Earthquakes
On October 17th 1995, the 8th Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI)
seminar entitled "Protect a railway system form earthquakes" was held at
Yamaha Hall in Tokyo.
The seminar shows a part of the R&D activities of RTRI which is the only
general research organization of the railway system in Japan. This time, 6
presentations referring to earthquake were given before an audience filling
the hall of JR groups. These presentations were highly attractive because
they were focused on the Hyogo-ken-nanbu Earthquake which hit on the early
morning of January 17, 1995. The Hyogo-ken-nanbu (Southern Part of Hyogo
Prefecture in Japan) Earthquake originated just below the northern part of
Awaji Island and swept the neighboring Kobe city areas. Various viaducts of
Shinkansen line, conventional lines, private lines, expressways and so on,
which had been believed to be technically safe under the strongest
earthquakes were collapsed. Lifelines including gas and water systems,
electric supply, and telephone service suffered severe damage. 5,466 lives
were lost making the most serious damage in Japan experience since World
War 2.
In the opening address, Dr. Yashoshima, chairman of RTRI, said that we
have a most valuable lesson from the disaster urging us to build radically
more earthquake-proof structures in quick recovery, and imposing new
problems future railway system. We should make the most of this experience
for the future security plan.
The following presentations were made after the opening address:
(1) "UrEDAS (Urgent Earthquake Detection and Alarm System) and HERAS
(Hazard Estimation and Restoration Aid System)"; Dr. Yutaka Nakamura,
general manager of RTRI
(2) "Earthquake-proof structures"; Dr. Akihiko Nishimura, general manager
of RTRI
(3) "Change of track and safety in earthquake"; Mr. Sigeru Miura, general
manager of RTRI
(4) "Derailment mechanisms of rolling stock", Dr. Masayuki Miyamoto, senior
researcher of RTRI
(5) "Human behaviors in disaster"; Mr. Tadashi Watanabe, senior researcher
of RTRI
(6) "On restoration of Shinkansen and JR Kobe-line"; Mr. Norio Shinomiya,
director of West Japan Railway Co.ltd.
The last presentation was a sepecial one by Mr. Shinomiya who was
responsible for the restoration work in the site. The semiar was a great
success with a large attendance of 450 peoples.