Railway Technical Research Institute
財団法人鉄道総合技術研究所
AbbreviationRTRI
Formation10 December 1986 (1986-12-10)
TypeJapanese Foundation
PurposeRailway technology research and consulting
Headquarters2-8-38, Hikaricho, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo
Location
  • Japan
Region served
Japan
Official language
Japanese
LeaderMasao Mukaidono, chairperson
AffiliationsJapan Railways Group
Budget
15.3 billion YEN (FY 2009) [1]
Staff
512 (as of 1 October 2008)
Websitewww.rtri.or.jp
Railway Technical Research Institute in Kokubunji, Tokyo

Railway Technical Research Institute (鉄道総合技術研究所, Tetsudō Sōgō Gijutsu Kenkyūsho), or RTRI (鉄道総研, Tetsudō Sōken), is the technical research company under the Japan Railways group of companies.

Overview

RTRI was established in its current form in 1986 just before Japanese National Railways (JNR) was privatised and split into separate JR group companies. It conducts research on everything related to trains, railways and their operation. It is funded by the government and private rail companies. It works both on developing new railway technology, such as magnetic levitation, and on improving the safety and economy of current technology.

Its research areas include earthquake detection and alarm systems, obstacle detection on level crossings, improving adhesion between train wheels and tracks, reducing energy usage, noise barriers and preventing vibrations.

JR's first experimental magnetic levitation train, ML100, on display outside RTRI

RTRI is the main developer in the Japanese SCMaglev program.

Offices and test facilities

Railway Technical Research Institute is located in Japan
Railway Technical Research Institute
Gatsugi
Gatsugi
Railway Technical Research Institute
Shiozawa
Shiozawa
Wind Tunnel
Wind Tunnel
Kunitachi
Kunitachi
RTRI　
 Research facilities  Office

Main office

  • 844 Shin-Kokusai Bldg. 3-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan

Research facilities

Gauge Change Train

The RTRI is developing a variable gauge system, called the "Gauge Change Train", to allow 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Shinkansen trains to access 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) lines of the original rail network.[2]

Publications

  • Japan Railway & Technical Review
  • Quarterly Report of RTRI - Print: ISSN 0033-9008 Online: ISSN 1880-1765

See also

References

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