On December 9, JR Tokai, JR West, and JR Kyushu released to the press a video of train control operations conducted from the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen No. 2 Control Center.
Normally, train operations are controlled at the Shinkansen Control Center in Tokyo, but once a year, train control is actually performed at the No. 2 Control Center in Osaka City, which was established as a backup facility in case of damage caused by an earthquake.
This was the 24th time the facility was used for train control, and a total of 115 command staff were involved: 78 from JR Tokai, 32 from JR West, and 5 from JR Kyushu.
The second control center was established in February 1999, taking lessons learned from the unprecedented disaster of January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, to establish a redundant chain of command so that operations could be quickly resumed in the event of a major disaster.
It has facilities equivalent to a general control center, such as Centralized Traffic Control (CTC), Computer Aided Traffic Control System (COMTRAC), and Centralized Substation Control (CSC). The system has facilities equivalent to a control center, such as the Centralized Traffic Control (CTC), Computer Aided Traffic Control System (COMTRAC), and Centralized Substation Control (CSC), and is always on standby with power on.
In the event of an emergency, command staff are summoned to the station and immediately switch functions to control the operation of all Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. During normal times, the system is used for training of command staff and maintenance personnel, and is also used for verification tests when equipment is upgraded.
In March 2011, the Kyushu Shinkansen Line was fully inaugurated, and command staff overseeing the Kyushu Shinkansen Line were stationed in the General Control Center.
The command staff at the Shinkansen control center are divided according to the nature of their duties. The “Transportation (Train) Command” is in charge of traffic control and operation management of the Shinkansen; the “Transportation (Passenger) Command” gives instructions to conductors and station staff to support passengers; the “Operation Command” makes decisions on train formation and responds to train breakdowns; the “Facility Command” is in charge of maintenance management of the tracks and stops power transmission in the event of an earthquake; the “Power Command” manages power system operations and operates substations remotely; the “Signal Communication Command” monitors and manages communication facilities such as CTC, COMTRAC, and train radio. The “Facilities Command” is in charge of maintenance of the lines and stops power transmission in the event of an earthquake, the “Power Command” manages the operation of the power system and operates substations remotely, the “Signaling and Communications Command” monitors and manages communications facilities such as CTC, COMTRAC, and train radio, and the “Information Command” transmits information via the Web when delays or changes are detected.
The train control will start at 0:40 a.m. on December 9, and train control will be performed at the No. 2 Control Center from 6:00 a.m., when the first train starts operation, until 24:00 p.m., when the last train finishes operation.
Although the press release lasted only about 30 minutes, various communications and orders were exchanged during that time. I witnessed a case in which a passenger fell down in the train and the emergency buzzer was pressed, and the person in charge of the situation immediately contacted the scene to confirm the situation, gave precise instructions, and ensured that information was shared.
According to data from JR Tokai, there are 244 Shinkansen trains a day running between Tokyo and Osaka, and 63 between Tokyo and Hakata. Nothing can possibly happen on these trains, and the key to convenience is how quickly and safely to deal with any such incidents.
Behind this is the accumulated know-how and on-the-spot efforts that have not been achieved overnight, as evidenced by the astonishing average delay time of 1.1 minutes per train in FY2022 (including delays caused by natural disasters).
I thought I caught a glimpse of the reason why the Shinkansen, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, is loved by the Japanese and marveled at as a “high-speed train that is on time” by people overseas.
At the end of the press conference, the commanders-in-chief of the three companies were interviewed. However, “September is a time when typhoons and other natural disasters often occur, so we conduct the train control exercise in December, when there are the fewest disasters,” explained Mr. Kosho Kamikawahara, General Manager of JR Tokai’s Transportation Control Center. “September is the time of year when typhoons and other natural disasters are most likely to occur.
In addition, as we approach the busy year-end season, “We have conducted inspections at each company to ensure safe transportation. We hope that you will use our trains with peace of mind and have a happy New Year in your hometowns,” said Masahiko Kasanami, General Manager of West Japan Railway Company.
© Source travel watch