The Japanese railway operator JR East (East Japan Railway) has developed a new shock absorber system that reduces the risk of derailment for Shinkansen high-speed trains during earthquakes.
According to the company, the new devices—called lateral seismic dampers—are designed to limit the lateral sway of train cars during an earthquake.
The system is set to be gradually installed on Shinkansen trains starting in the fall of 2027 and continuing through fiscal year 2032.
Lessons from the 2004 Earthquake
The technology was developed in collaboration with the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI), based on lessons learned from the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Niigata Prefecture in 2004.
Following that earthquake, a Joetsu Shinkansen train derailed—the first such incident in the commercial operation of high-speed trains in Japan. No passengers or crew members were injured.
Reducing the risk of derailment by up to 50%
According to JR East, the new shock absorbers can reduce the risk of derailment by approximately 50% in the event of an earthquake of similar intensity.
The shock absorbers are mounted between the train body and the bogies and are typically used to reduce vibrations and improve passenger comfort.
The new version of the device features a reinforced structure capable of absorbing the stronger oscillations caused by seismic activity.
The system will be installed on trains of the E5, E6, E7, and E8 series, and the cost of the program is estimated at approximately 10 billion yen (about EUR 55 million).
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