News Release

Mr. Kazumasa KUMAZAWA, Assistant Senior Researcher, at RTRI, received the Year 2021 Award for Contribution to Standardization by the Railway Technology Standardization Survey Committee. The award ceremony took place on March 30 at Plaza F in Tokyo.

RTRI Developed an early repair method and aseismic reinforcement method for the embankment damaged by rainfalls and earthquakes. By applying these methods, the performance of embankments will be improved, while work period and repair costs will be reduced.

RTRI Developed an aseismic reinforcement method for steel bridges integrating steel girder, abutment and embankment (Fig. 1) and it has been applied to a commercial railway bridge. This method is particularly effective in reinforcing deteriorated steel bridges in urban areas where only little work space is available. Since this method does not require construction of a temporary track and only minimal under-bridge space is occupied during the reinforcement work, high seismic performance can be attained with a shorter construction period and smaller cost.

RTRI Developed a dynamic gauge and twist measurement device TRACK²er. This device is capable of measuring track displacement caused by passing trains. Since this device can be mounted on a maintenance vehicle instead of using a track inspection car, it is possible to measure track displacement more easily, with lower cost.

RTRI developed the first snow accretion simulator in Japan. This simulator is capable of precisely reproducing the process of snow accretion onto train bogies by computing and the phenomenon can be analyzed under conditions close to actual train running including snowfall and wind intensity. This new device will be used to develop vehicles preventing snow accretion more effectively.

RTRI developed a device to detect trackside facilities protruding into the track clearance (Fig. 1). This device is capable of checking continuously whether any trackside objects interrupt safe train running or not without manual measurement nor using a specialized measuring vehicle.

On August 7 this year, the Rolling Stock Test Plant (Fig.1) at RTRI was designated by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers（JSME）as Mechanical Engineering Heritage No. 108 because of its historical value as an existing mechanical and engineering asset.

On July 1, RTRI and the National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand (NSTDA) concluded Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation.

A low-noise moving model rig was newly completed at RTRI. This testing facility, featuring the world’s highest class performance, is capable of running a 1:20 scale model train at the maximum speed of 400 km/h and accurately reproducing the air flow and turbulence created by a running train. It was completed on July 10, 2020 and testing was started on October 29, 2020.

On February 26, 2021, a new test rig was completed at RTRI. This test stand is capable of reproducing high-speed train running (maximum 500 km/h) and the load acting to the bogie (Fig.1 and 2), and, with this rig, durability and performance of Shinkansen’s wheel and axle can be evaluated. It will be utilized to evaluate the durability of wheelset and bogie parts and to analyze the mechanism of wheelset damage development.

Mr. Kazuki Nakamura of RTRI was given the Year 2020 Award for Contribution to Standardization by the Railway Technology Standardization Survey Committee. The award giving ceremony was held on March 31 in Tokyo.

RTRI has developed a risk assessment system for snowmelt disasters. (Fig. 1) This system assesses the risk of slope collapses caused by snowmelt water in early spring, and the first one developed for railways in Japan.

RTRI and SNCF held their 9th Collaborative Research Seminar on December 3, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 travel restrictions, the seminar was held online and hosted by RTRI.

AT RTRI, a world’s highest level pantograph testing machine was completed (Fig. 1). This machine is capable of moving a pantograph at high speeds up to 500 km/h, powered with large current from trolley wire and assessing the performance of Shinkansen’s pantographs. This machine will be used to develop a pantograph which has an excellent performance to keep contact with trolley wire and is capable of reducing contact loss. The mechanism of abrasion of pantograph contact strips and trolley wire will be analyzed with this machine as well.

On November 11, at Yurakucho Asahi Square, Tokyo, RTRI held the Digital Maintenance Technical Seminar.