Nagoya Railroad and Mitsubishi Electric will begin demonstration testing of a radio-based new train protection system on the Seto Line. They will test the foundation for replacing the existing signal control system to improve safety and achieve automated train operation in the future.
Nagoya Railroad and Mitsubishi Electric announced plans to conduct demonstration testing of a radio-based new train protection system, provisionally named, on the Seto Line from 20 January to early March 2027. The purpose is to improve safety and build the foundation for future automated train operation.
The new system will transmit information from existing signals to trains by radio and support train control. This enables the system to constantly identify the safe operating-speed range and update information without relying on the train’s location, providing a foundation for the future realization of automated train operation, according to the explanation.
The demonstration will use running tests to verify whether the new system functions in a manner suited to Nagoya Railroad’s operating practices, while the companies consider its full-scale introduction. Previously, operations would begin only after all construction was completed, but the demonstration will operate the new and existing systems on the same line at the same time to verify safety and practicality.
The implementation overview calls for testing on the Seto Line from 20 January to early March 2027. The demonstration will verify a framework for the phased introduction of the new system on trains and earlier safety improvements.