The juridical foundation, the "Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI)," was established on 10 December 1986 just before the privatization and division of the Japanese National Railways (JNR). On 1 April 1987, with the establishment of the JR (Japan Railways) Companies, the RTRI started operation in earnest, taking over the research and development activities of the JNR.
The RTRI is now challenging innovation on railway technologies covering from basic research to application in the fields of rolling stock, civil engineering, electrical engineering, information technology, material, environment and human sciences.