JR East to Introduce Driverless Shinkansen Trains by 2030: A Revolution in Japan’s Transportation

The Japanese railway company JR East plans to introduce driverless trains on the Joetsu Shinkansen line by 2030, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

This move will mark a significant milestone in the development of autonomous driving technologies on high-speed railways.

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A 55-kilometer section between Nagaoka and Niigata stations has been selected as the testing ground.

By 2029, trains on this section will begin operating without a driver, but under driver supervision, and later they will run fully autonomously.

The primary goal of implementing such technologies is to improve train safety, reduce human error, and offer more flexible scheduling.

Additionally, automation will help address the growing shortage of train drivers, a pressing issue in recent years. This technology promises to significantly reduce operational risks and enhance traffic management efficiency.

The project aims not only to improve logistics within Japan but also to create a model for applying similar solutions on other high-speed train lines.

After the successful trials on the Joetsu Shinkansen, JR East plans to expand autonomous operations to other routes, which could mark a major step forward in the global railway industry.

The first mention of JR East’s plans to automate its trains surfaced in 2020. By 2021, testing had begun with a 12-car E7 series train featuring the highest automation level, GoA4.

This train operates fully autonomously, with a driver present only to observe the process from the front carriage without any direct involvement.

Testing is currently being conducted on a specially designated 5-kilometer section in Niigata Prefecture.

Driverless trains represent not only a technical breakthrough but also a social one. The development of such technologies opens up new possibilities for railway transportation, making it safer, more convenient, and faster.

Photo: ajupress.com

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