JR East is at the center of a scandal due to years of concealing data falsification during the installation of railway wheels, reports Railway Supply news portal, citing The Japan Times.

JR East Scandal: Data Falsification and Safety Concerns Exposed

Since 2017, the company repeatedly forged data on the pressure applied during the mounting of wheelsets.

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The violations occurred at a station in the Shinagawa area, but the information was deliberately hidden.

The company claimed that these actions did not violate Ministry of Transport regulations, so it did not find it necessary to disclose the discrepancies.

The situation escalated after similar violations were discovered at Japan Freight Railway Co. (JR Freight).

The Ministry of Transport demanded urgent inspections of all railway operators, leading to the exposure of the issues at JR East.

The problem was the discrepancy in pressure applied compared to established standards, potentially endangering passenger and freight safety.

In some cases, data were falsified to avoid regulatory consequences and reputational damage.

JR East’s long-standing violations and their concealment have raised serious questions about the reliability of oversight and compliance with standards in Japan’s railway industry.

The scandal cast doubt on the company’s transparency and drew public criticism.

JR East announced an internal investigation and strengthened quality controls to regain passenger trust and meet safety requirements.

This case highlights the need for strict oversight and transparency in the operations of railway companies.

Violations at JR East and JR Freight demonstrated the importance of supervision and timely identification of issues to avoid risks to passengers and maintain high safety standards on the railways.

Photo: A train on JR East’s Chuo Line in Tokyo | REUTERS

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