Strengthening Safety Management in Light of the Shinkansen Serious Incident

「・Promotion of the installation of ground-based bogie temperature detection equipment on the Sanyo Shinkansen・Promotion of the installation of bogie abnormality detection equipment on N700-series trains」

「・Promotion of the installation of ground-based bogie temperature detection equipment on the Sanyo Shinkansen ・Promotion of the installation of bogie abnormality detection equipment on N700-series trains」

「By March, we had installed bogie abnormality detection equipment on all N700A trainsets (16-car formations) and put the first ground-based bogie temperature detection unit into operation.」

「On the hardware side, we are taking every possible measure to ensure rolling-stock safety through ultrasonic flaw detection and thorough visual inspections of bogies, while proceeding with measures such as introducing equipment to detect bogie abnormalities while trains are in motion. During the current fiscal year, we plan to install bogie abnormality detection equipment on all N700A trainsets (16-car formations) and put the first ground-based bogie temperature detection unit into operation.」

「We are steadily implementing measures for an appropriate response in the event of an abnormality, including stopping a train immediately if an employee identifies an abnormality or safety cannot be confirmed, reporting it to the relevant parties, and ensuring safety through a prompt organizational response. We are also taking every possible measure to ensure rolling-stock safety through ultrasonic flaw detection and thorough visual inspections of bogies, while proceeding with measures such as introducing equipment to detect bogie abnormalities while trains are in motion.」

「With regard to improving Shinkansen safety, we take seriously the failure to detect the bogie abnormality in the serious Shinkansen incident last December and the continuation of operations despite the abnormality being noticed during the journey. We are taking every possible measure to ensure rolling-stock safety, including thorough visual inspections of bogies, and are steadily implementing measures for an appropriate response in the event of an abnormality.」

「In March, we received a report from the external members of the Expert Committee on the Serious Shinkansen Incident. Taking the recommendations in the report seriously, management will demonstrate leadership and, together with the technical and operational teams, identify latent risks in the systems supporting Shinkansen operations across the organization, and work to improve safety by repeatedly applying the PDCA cycle to countermeasures.」

「To ensure an appropriate response in the event of an abnormality, we are strengthening the command structure and the system for conducting checks by placing personnel aboard trains, while also considering the early introduction of hardware measures, such as equipment for determining whether an abnormality has occurred. In addition, on 8 January we established the Expert Committee on the Serious Shinkansen Incident. While receiving evaluations and recommendations from external experts from a human-factors perspective regarding our investigations and response measures, we will review the rules and systems for safe operations. We will also strengthen the Shinkansen organization, and through these initiatives rapidly raise the overall level of Shinkansen safety management.」