JR East Group will install the “Escalator Stopping System” on four single-seat escalators in the Shinkansen ticket gates (south transfer entrance) of Tokyo Station from March 5.
The system uses a 3D sensor installed near the escalator’s descent entrance to detect the status of passengers, alerts the following passengers with sound and light, and then automatically stops the escalator in an emergency.
With conventional single-seat escalators, if a person falls over near the exit, the escalator must be stopped by pressing the emergency stop button or there is a risk of a secondary disaster due to the influx of people following the escalator. The system can prevent damage from crowd accidents because it stops the escalator quickly. The official introduction of the system was made possible by the completion of the development environment and on-site verification.
We will continue to consider introducing this system in areas where the risk of occurrence of retention is high.
© Source travel watch