Hiroshima Electric Railway will conduct a trial run between Tokaichicho and Betsuin-mae on the Yokogawa Line at a maximum speed of 50 km/h from March 4 for the time being.
The purpose is to prevent accidents and improve speed by reducing the speed difference with automobiles. This is part of an initiative by the “Study Group on Speed Improvement of Streetcars,” consisting of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, track operators, the National Police Agency, and others.
The maximum speed for combined track operation is 40 km/h or less according to the “Track Operation Regulations” of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, but the company received permission to make an exception for this test run. This is the first time in Japan that a combined track has been operated at speeds in excess of 40 km/h.
The test run will be conducted with a non-operating car (1000 class) with a “Speed Improvement Test in Progress” sign on the front of the car. If it is confirmed that there are no problems, the plan is to start operation at a maximum of 50 km/h on the commercial trains of Lines 7 and 8 that run in the above section.
© Source travel watch