Railway Technical Research Institute

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.

Railway Technical Research Institute
財団法人鉄道総合技術研究所
RTRI's logo
AbbreviationRTRI
FormationDecember 10, 1986 (1986-12-10)
TypeJapanese Foundation
PurposeResearch and consulting of the railway technology.
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 October 1, 2008)
Websitewww.rtri.or.jp
Railway Technical Research Institute in Kokubunji, Tokyo

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.

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

RTRI is the main developer behind the Japanese SCMaglev program.

Offices and test facilities
Gatsugi
Shiozawa
Wind Tunnel
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
  1. http://www.rtri.or.jp/rtri/gyomu_zaimu/h21/pdf/6_1.pdf
  2. "Japan Railway & Transport Review - page 6" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-08. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
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