Abbreviation RTRI Location Japan Headquarters Kokubunji Budget 15.3 billion JPY (2009) | Type Japanese Foundation Region served Japan Founded 10 December 1986 | |
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Formation December 10, 1986; 30 years ago (1986-12-10) Purpose Research and consulting of the railway technology. Staff 512 (as of October 1, 2008) Profiles | ||
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.
Contents
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. RTRI conducts research about everything related to trains, railways and their operation. Funding is received from the government as well as the private railway companies. RTRI works both on developing new railway technology, such as magnetic levitation, and improving the safety and economy of current technology.
Research topics include earthquake detection and alarm systems, systems for detecting obstacles on level crossings, improving adhesion between train wheels and tracks, reducing energy usage, noise barriers and preventing vibrations, among other topics.
RTRI is the main developer behind the Japanese SCMaglev program.
Main office
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.