This study examined services required for passengers on a train staying for a long time at a distant place from stations. For this purpose, an observational study was performed on a 90-minute recover drill to rescue passengers on a Shinkansen train that stayed in the Shin Kanmon Tunnel due to electric power failure, from which passengers were transferred to another train on the adjacent track. About 200 employees of West Japan Railway Company participated in the drill to play the roles of a driver, a conductor, passengers, and others. As a result of analysis, the following problems were identified: (1) missed reception and excessive volume of information sent from the dispatcher, (2) insufficient content and frequency of public addressing, and (3) insufficient frequency of patrolling in the train, which were discussed in order to establish countermeasures and expedite research and development required in the future.

Copyright (c) 2004 Railway Technical Research Institute