Domestic standardisation

Committee:
Railways
status:
New
Published:
In July 2024, JR East and JR West announced an initiative aimed at standardising equipment and components in conventional railcars. This effort seeks to sustain and advance the railway transportation business while ensuring stable transportation services. The initiative is partly in response to systemic changes in the domestic railway market, including shifts in passenger behaviour, a growing labour shortage, and declining domestic production capacity. The EBC views this initiative as a highly positive first step and hopes that other Japanese railway operators will either join this effort or establish their own harmonisation initiatives.

Recommendations

  • The EBC applauds the initiative by the two operators and recommends that all necessary support is given to secure its success.
  • More operator shall either join this initiative or set up their own standardisation projects so that Japan can fully benefit from harmonisation of standards.
  • It is imperative that the standards developed are made public so that European suppliers can meet and exceed them.
  • Japanese authorities should take an active role to promote the completion of the announced initiative and others to come.