Demonstration experiments of JR East's latest technology for controlling railway trains wirelessly using the communication network of mobile phones are underway.
We are aiming to put it into practical use in 2024 with the aim of improving safety and reducing costs such as equipment maintenance.
The demonstration experiment is underway on the Hachiko Line, which connects Tokyo Hachioji City in JR East and Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture, and was released in the early hours of the 28th.
The test vehicle is equipped with a dedicated antenna that uses artificial satellites to grasp the position and speed of trains, and exchanges information that controls operation wirelessly using the communication network of mobile phones instead of the current cable = wired. It is a mechanism to exchange.
In the experiment, we confirmed whether the vehicle could be stopped safely when the emergency button that notifies the abnormality was pressed at the railroad crossing.
Currently, when the emergency button is pressed, the information reaches the traffic light through the communication cable laid along the railway line, the signal flashes, and the driver sees it and brakes.
On the other hand, in the experiment, the information of the emergency button reaches the antenna of the vehicle by radio waves via the communication network of the mobile phone, an alarm sounds in the vehicle, and the driver brakes.
While driving at about 40 km / h, the driver stopped in about 10 seconds when braking with an audible alarm, indicating that there was no problem with performance.
In the unlikely event that the driver is late in applying the brakes and approaches the railroad crossing, a mechanism that automatically applies the emergency brake will be introduced, further improving safety.
In addition, since related equipment such as communication cables can be removed, maintenance costs can be reduced by about 20% on the Hachiko Line, leading to cost reductions.
JR East is aiming for practical use in 2024.
Reduction of maintenance costs for communication cables for railroad crossing transmission
JR East says that the practical application of wireless train control will lead to a reduction in maintenance costs.
The burden of maintenance is particularly heavy at railroad crossings along the railway lines.
For control, equipment called "railroad crossing controller" or "ground child" for grasping the approach of the train about 1 km before and lowering the barrier, and when there is an abnormality in the railroad crossing, it glows red to notify A "special signal light emitter" is required, and they are connected by a communication cable for information transmission.
If the method under experiment using the communication network of a mobile phone is put into practical use, when a button for notifying an abnormality is pressed at a railroad crossing, the information reaches the antenna of the vehicle by radio waves and an alarm sounds to be transmitted to the driver. Related equipment such as cables can be removed.
In the unlikely event that communication problems occur, safety measures such as stopping all trains will be taken.
There are about 120 railroad crossings in a 60km section of the JR Hachiko Line where the experiment is being conducted, and the total length of the communication cable is 300km, which is five times that of the track.
If these are removed and replaced with wireless, maintenance costs can be reduced by about 20%.
JR East maintains 69 routes in Kanto Koshinetsu and Tohoku, with a number of operating kilometers of 7,400 kilometers, of which about 2,100 kilometers are called "local transportation lines" and have few users.
Hiroto Sugiura, Deputy General Manager of the Electric Network Department of JR East, said, "With the declining birthrate and aging population expected, we will use various technologies to reduce the burden on local routes and solve problems with a sense of speed. I want to work on it. "
Wireless control technology Efforts in various regions
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has noted that the technology to control trains wirelessly will lead to the maintenance of local routes, and will start a demonstration experiment from next year.
The experiment will be conducted on the Daioyama Line of the Izuhakone Railway, which runs a 10km section from Odawara City in Kanagawa Prefecture to the suburbs.
The experiment conducted on this line is to utilize wireless technology when trains enter and leave the station, and unlike the wireless mechanism that uses the communication network of mobile phones, it uses a newly developed dedicated wireless system.
If it is put into practical use, it will lead to a reduction in equipment such as related cables and signal equipment.
Since the number of users is smaller than that of major railway companies, maintenance costs such as renewal costs, which cost millions to tens of millions of yen depending on the equipment, are a burden on management.
Hiroyuki Fujita, General Manager of the Railway Department of Izuhakone Railway, said, "I think that a system that can reduce the high investment required throughout the year is very beneficial."
The technology for wirelessly controlling trains is being introduced in various places, such as JR West deciding to introduce it on the Wakayama Line in 2023.