Historical Background

1986

Dec. 10 : Establishment of the RTRI authorized by the Minister of Transport.

1987

Apr. 01 : The RTRI inherited the R&D arm of Japanese National Railways upon its division and privatization.

1990

Nov. 15 : New rolling stock test plant completed.

1991

Mar. 31 : Test Plant E (human science) completed.

1992

Oct. 13 : International railway research seminar on "R&D in World Railway -Today and Tomorrow-" (later developed into WCRR).

1993

Jan. 31 : Brake Test Plant completed.

1996

Jun. 05 : Large-scale low-noise wind tunnel completed.
Jul. 01 : Yamanashi Maglev Test Center opened.
Jul. 01 : Railway Technology Promotion Center opened.

1997

Mar. 21 : First railway design engineer examination administered.

1999

Oct. 19-23 : World Congress on Railway Research 1999 (WCRR '99) held at the RTRI.

2003

Dec. 02 : The world speed record of 581 km/h for a manned train (MLX01) attained on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line.

2004

Nov. 16 : Two-train crossing test at a relative speed of 1026 km/h on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line.

2006

Apr. 26 : Running test of fuelcell railway vehicle succeeded.

2007

Oct. 25 : A battery-driven, energy-recycling light-rail vehicle opened to the Public.

2008

Oct. 31 : Large-scale vibration test machine completed.

2010

Apr. 01 : Inauguration of the Railway International Standards Center

May 18 : Took on the responsibility as the secretariat for national mirror committee of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) / TC17 (Steel) / SC15 (Railway rails, rails fasteners, wheels and wheelsets).

2011

Mar. 11 :Great East Japan Earthquake (participation in recovery support activities).

Apr. 01 : Accredited as a public interest incorporated foundation.

2012

July 18 : Took on the responsibility as the secretariat for national mirror committee of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) / TC269 (Railway applications).

2014

Apr. 01 : Center for Railway Earthquake Engineering Research inaugurated.

Dec. 11 : The vision “We will develop innovative technologies to enhance the rail mode so that railways can contribute to the creation of a happier society” decided.

2015

Apr. 01 : Master plan “RESEARCH 2020” that embodied a strategy based on the vision started. (until the end of fiscal 2019).

June 01 : Started operation of an Earthquake Information Disclosure System for Railways.

2016

Apr. 14 : Kumamoto earthquake (participation in recovery support activities).

Nov. 30 : “Ascent” a public relations magazine for overseas launched.

2019

Oct. 12 : Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon (Typhoon Hagibis) (participation in recovery support activities).

Oct. 28 – Nov. 01 : The 12th World Congress on Railway Research “WCRR 2019” held at Tokyo International Forum.

2020

Apr. 01 : Master plan “RESEARCH 2025” started (until the end of fiscal 2024).

July. 03 – July.31 : The 2020 Kyushu floods (participation in recovery support activities)

July. 10 : Low-Noise Moving Model Test Facility completed.

Sep. 30 : High-Speed Test Facility for Pantograph/OCL Systems completed.

2021

Feb. 26 : High-Speed Wheelset Dynamic Load Test Facility completed.