Review and Future of Research and Development in Railway Disaster
Preventions Against Natural Hazard
Katsuya OKADA
Many railway lines in Japan constructed across rapid stream rivers and along
unstable slopes suffer from various disasters caused by earthquake, flood, heavy
rainfall,tremendous snowfall,frost, strong wind,etc. This paper is a review of
research and developments for railway disaster preventions against such natural
hazards. The review covers the earthquake damage to soil structures, scouring
around the pier in flood, heavy rainfall causing slope failures, snowfall damage
to railway structures and cars, frost-heave in tunnels and track formation, and
strong wind disrupting the railaway operations. The future perspective in railway
disaster preventions is also discussed.