To replace the diesel cars running on non-electrified sections, the RTRI is promoting research and development into railway vehicle powered by fuelcells that feature high energy efficiency, reduce CO₂ exhaust gas and prevent the exhaustion of fuels.

High-pressurized hydrogen container system	Fuelcell power module	Test car

Energy recycling vehicles store the electric energy generated during braking in on-board rechargeable lithium ion batteries for lossless reuse when it cannot be returned to contact wires (i.e., when regenerative control is impossible), thereby contributing further to energy savings.

The energy recycling vehicle and its principle

The permanent magnet synchronous motors used for conventional trains are more efficient than conventional traction motors and also save energy, prevent noise and reduce maintenance work.

Totally-enclosed permanent magnet synchronous motor

The RTRI is currently developing a traction transformer for rolling stock using high-temperature superconducting windings to make it compact, lightweight and more efficient. A prototype 25kV version of the transformer has been produced.

Image of a traction transformer for rolling stock

Power storage systems using electric double-layer capacitors can compensate voltage drop in DC feeding circuits, improve availability of regenerative braking and realize effective utilization of regenerated power. They can be located at or between substations.

An example of voltage drop compensation

The RTRI evaluated the noise reduction effect of various types of noise barrier by scaled model tests in an anechoic chamber. The Y-shaped noise barrier that showed satisfactory performance in this evaluation was subjected to field tests, which confirmed the effects found in the evaluation.

Field test of Y-shaped noise barrier

The RTRI has developed a high-performance damping material called Mag-Damper (constrained magnetic damping material), made of laminated magnetic rubber layers and galvanized steel plates. It can readily be used in steel railway bridges with its attractive force to significantly reduce noise emitted from the bridge.

Scene of Mag-Damper installation

The type D resilient sleeper solid bed track, mainly used on viaduct bridges, features high-level noise prevention performance for structure-borne noise, lower construction costs than those of conventional tracks, and ease of replacement for resilient materials and other members.

Type D resilient sleeper solid bed track (cross-sectional drawing)

Low-frequency sound is generated when a high-speed train runs through a tunnel or in an open section. A typical phenomenon of such sound is a micro-pressure wave emitted from a tunnel exit when a train enters an opposite portal. To reduce the micro-pressure wave, the RTRI has been promoting research and development on its countermeasures such as optimization of train nose shape and installation of a tunnel entrance hood.

A fundamental experiment on unsteady flow caused when a high-speed train enters a tunnel