By the middle of the 1930s, one of Japan’s biggest railway businesses hopes to see completely autonomous bullet trains tearing across the nation. East Japan Railway (JR East) states that at least one prototype will make its public premiere in 2028. On September 10, the corporation made its plans public, stating that it wanted to make its operations more sustainable and streamlined.
For more than 50 years, Japan’s famous Shinkansen railings also referred to as bullet trains, have been a mainstay of the country’s high-speed public transit networks. The trains, which can go up to 300 km/h (186 mph) at high speed, are now entirely electric and lighter than their predecessors. They weave through the nation’s main cities. The Japan Times claims that JR East has included self-driving bullet trains in its overall plans ever since the firm unveiled its “Transformation 2027” project framework in 2018.
In 2028, Shinkansen trains will be gradually upgraded with second-degree automation capabilities as part of a phased deployment strategy. In this instance, “second degree” refers to the fact that the railcar will run autonomously, with a driver on duty in the cockpit in case of emergency. A brief segment of the track connecting Nagaoka Station and the Niigata station center will be traversed by these second-degree trains. The next year, JR East will start testing third-degree automation lines on an out-of-service route. These lines are completely driverless, with crew members fulfilling additional tasks on the trains as needed.
From there, by the middle of the 1930s, the business plans to finish rolling out a fourth-grade automation system between Tokyo and Niigata on the Joetsu Shinkansen line, with additional lines to follow. Under these circumstances, a bullet train would operate without the need for human conductors or operators. Joetsu line Shinkansen trains may currently travel at a maximum speed of 275 km/h (170 mph), as reported by the AFP.
In the US, autonomous vehicles are most often linked to self-driving cars, despite ongoing criticism over their safety and feasibility. In theory, automated trains following predetermined timetables would require less complex systems that deal with a smaller number of variables than what frequently happens on public roads and highways.
A JR East representative told the AFP on Tuesday that the company’s decision is mostly based on “the need to constantly innovate railway technology.” They acknowledged that the developments “may, in turn, help address labor shortage and other issues” at the same time. With one in ten residents currently over 80, Japan has the oldest average population in the world. For years, the nation has also experienced dropping birth rates along with demographic changes that are already causing problems with labor.
As a workaround for the issues, many businesses are turning more and more to automation initiatives; some of these initiatives date back to 2009. However, detractors argue that more human-centered approaches, such as immigration reform and a more accepting attitude toward immigrants, might also contribute to solving the issues.