The Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) has been actively advancing collaborative researches with overseas organizations since its reorganization and privatization from the former Japanese National Railways in 1987. These efforts have well suited the recent globalization in the research of railway technology.
    Actually, RTRI signed a fundamental agreement with the China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS) regarding the long-term cooperation in railway technology in October 1988, just one year after the privatization. The practical activities of the collaborative research between RTRI and CARS started in December 1992 based upon the newly signed agreement. The current research activities are in the third stage and include the fields of brake shoe, skid control, current collection and vehicle dynamics. RTRI has also joined the collaborative research on the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Line project conducted by the Japan-China Railway Conference for Promoting Mutual Friendship (JCR) and the High Speed Railway Office, Ministry of Railways of China.
    In November 1994, after the World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR'94) held by SNCF in Paris, the International Union of Railways (UIC) and RTRI signed collaborative research agreement. RTRI has participated in some committees and/or projects of UIC and contributed to its activities. RTRI has also joined the European Rail Research Institute (ERRI) together with the East Japan Railway Company on behalf of the Japan Railway Group. RTRI has been contributing to the ERRI's committee/projects on noise, signaling and other subjects.
    The Research and Technology Department of SNCF and RTRI signed a collaborative research agreement in November 1995. This research collaboration is now completing its second stage, and research work is going on in the field of track technology, side wind and ride-comfort. RTRI and SNCF hold a collaborative research seminar in Paris in July 2001 to report and exchange the results of research. The next seminar will be held in Tokyo at the end of 2002.
    The Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) have a very close and long-term relationship in the railway research with RTRI. TTCI/AAR and RTRI concluded a fundamental contract in July 1995 regarding the use of the facilities of TTCI and research cooperation. Based upon this contract, RTRI performed long-term durability tests of rail welding and ladder tracks. High-speed running tests of the three-car Gauge Change Train started in April 1999 and finished in March 2001, after reaching an approximately 600, 000 km running distance.
    The Korean Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) and RTRI signed a fundamental agreement on collaborative research in August 1999 and started research projects based on the agreement in June 2000. The research themes include track bed, air brake and signaling.
    CARS, KRRI and RTRI signed an agreement on the joint research seminar in August 2000. The first research seminar based upon this agreement was held at KRRI in June 2001. The researchers from these three parties got together at KRRI and made presentation to exchange the results of their collaborative researches. The next seminar will be held by RTRI in October 2002.
    Furthermore, RTRI has been promoting collaborative researches with overseas universities and research institutes, including exchanges of researchers. These organizations include Texas Tech University, Deutschen Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Technischen Universitat Munchen, IFAD, University of Sheffield, University of London/Imperial College, University of Cagliari, TIMKEN Research, Ecole Centrale de Lyon and so on.
    Through these activities on the international arena, RTRI wishes to keep on contributing to the advancement of railway technology and mutual understanding.