Rolling stock makes a lateral vibration easily when subjected to increased aerodynamic forces in high-speed operation. The semi-active damping device controls resistance against lateral motion of car body and suppresses vibration to improve riding comfort. This device is widely used in high-speed Shinkansen trains.

Principle of semi-active damper

The RTRI has addressed research and development to provide in-train facilities friendly to the passengers of all ages, body sizes, sexes and the physically-impaired. The efforts cover familiar facilities including seats, straps, support poles and overhead racks.

Experiment of user-friendly straps

Use of curbing support poles

Simulation of passenger flow

A system is programmed to clarify the flow of passengers at peak hours. The system targets passengers throughout the whole station and classifies them by destination, characterizing their behavior and calculating time series changes in passenger density in spatial meshes. The system is used for designing passenger stations.

The RTRI has developed a next-generation tilting car control system (i.e. an electro-hydraulic actuator) with all elements improved for better performance and riding comfort in controlled tilting cars. This system has improved position-detecting performance stability and reduced low-frequency lateral rolling, which were seen as problems with the conventional controlled pendulum (i.e. pneumatic cylinder).

Electric actuator mounted on a tilting car

Towards the realization of a user-friendly railway system, the RTRI is developing a practical information provision system for passengers with mobility difficulties. The system for the visually impaired offers guidance using a special white cane and portable terminal, while the system for wheelchair users gives vocal and visual guidance through a PDA. The RTRI has also developed another guidance system for people in general which is built on the same information infrastructure.

Evaluation test of the system for the visually impaired (Wakamatsu-Kawada Station, Oedo line, Tokyo Metropolitan Subway)

As part of the IT-enhanced CyberRail service, the RTRI has developed a passenger support system which, by using cellular phone e-mail service, provides users with detailed guidance regarding their travel itineraries. This system can also provide intermodal travel guidance covering both rail and bus services.

Ticket and cellular phone used for system evaluation

The RTRI has developed a variable damping axle damper and an air spring with a built-in flow control value, as well as a control method to effectively reduce carbody vertical vibration using these new components. Through a running test, the RTRI has confirmed that Shinkansen cars fitted with these components exhibit a significantly improved riding comfort.

Concept of damping control using a variable axle damper and air spring with a built-in flow control valve

Installation of a variable damping axle damper and an air spring with a built-in flow control valve on a car

This algorithm automatically drafts train operation recovery diagrams when train operation has been disturbed. It automatically proposes the cancellation of trains and changing the rotation of rolling stock while ensuring satisfactory service to users.

An example of algorithm output when trains are delayed due to vehicle failure