Technological Development for Reducing Maintenance 

In the 100km area around Tokyo, we are continuing with construction of TC-type low maintenance tracks (strengthened with filling material) and 2000-type turnouts (structurally reinforced with grid sleepers). We are currently developing improved low-maintenance tracks and turnouts in order to achieve greater structural optimization.

In other areas, we are also proceeding with the development of structurally optimized TC-type ballasted tracks with resilient sleepers (reduced track settlement using elastic material under sleepers) and prestressed concrete sleeper turnouts as existing parts deteriorate and require replacement.

Simple Catenary for High-speed Line

Some catenaries installed in the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen Lines have been deteriorating. As a part of renovations, we conducted tests to determine if simple catenaries are a suitable replacement for the heavy compound catenaries on the Shinkansen, and it was confirmed that there are no problems up to speeds of 320km/h. Evaluation of performance at higher speeds is planned in future.