1. Investments in Safety by JR East Japan
HIDEAKI KIMURA
Transport Safety Department
East Japan Railway Company
International Railway Safety Conference in London
October 8, 2012
First I would like to use this opportunity to thank everyone for the support and words of encouragement that have been offered to Japan concerning the restoration and rehabilitation following the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.
Japan is one of the countries that is most susceptible to earthquakes in the world. Approximately 20% of the magnitude 6 or above earthquakes that occur on our planet occur in and around Japan.
The recent large earthquake and the accompanying tsunami has been a particularly important lesson for us.
In this presentation, I will start out with an overview of the major earthquakes that have occurred in the past and the safety measures that were adopted in response.
I will then give an explanation on the damage that was caused to our railways by the large earthquake and the accompanying tsunami in March 2011, how our company responded in our railway operations, and the effects of the various earthquake countermeasures that have been adopted up until now.

2. JR East JR Group Map JR Hokkaido JR West Tokyo JR Kyushu Osaka
I will start off with a brief introduction of our company.
This is the area where JR East operates in Japan.
JR East was established 24 years ago in April 1987 when the former Japanese National Railways was divided into six regional passenger railway companies and one freight railway company covering the entire country.
Tokyo
JR Kyushu
Osaka
JR Central
JR Freight
JR Shikoku 2

3. Overview of JR East 1 Number of employees 59,130
*The figures are as of April 1, 2012　
Shin-Aomori
December 4, 2010　
Service started between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori　
December 4, 2010
Service started between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori
Number of employees ,130　
Working kilometers ,512.6 km　
Number of stations 1,689　
Number of in-service trains 12,757/day　
Number of trains　　　　 13,157　
Hachinohe
Akita
Shinjo
Niigata
Nagano
Shinkansen　　　　 km　　
Conventional lines converted
for Shikansen service km　　
Tokyo
New direct lines (see above) km　　 3
Extension work underway (Shinkansen)　

4. Overview of JR East 2 Per day: 4 Train-kilometers: 710,000 KM
Passengers: million
Crossing openings: approximately 700,000 times
Signal validations: approximately 1.2 million times
Door openings: approximately 6 million times 4

5. Contents 1. Safety is an important mission for our railway business
a) We have been working consistently to improve safety as our important mission.
b) For safety investments , we have invested more than 2,200 billion yen under
the past four 5-year safety plans.
2. Prevention of accidents by evaluating risks in advance
a) Our present method to prevent serious accidents is mainly to prevent repeating
the accidents or events that had happened.
b) In the fifth 5-year safety plan , we introduced risk evaluation that takes into
consideration the frequency of the events we have experienced in the past ,and
the maximum scale of damage of the events we can imagine.
3. Our way of thinking about safety investments
a) We will continue the present method to prevent serious accidents. In addition,
we will advance the new method of before the fact prevention of accidents
by risk evaluation
b) We will push forward countermeasures based on the experience of the Great
East Japan Earthquake disaster, taking countermeasures for a possible
earthquake directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Now, I will provide an outline of this presentation.
　・First, I will introduce the earthquake countermeasures taken in the past to ensure the safe operation of railways.
　・Next, I will provide an overview of the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, the impact this had on our railways, and the countermeasures adopted in response to this earthquake.
　・I will then present a conclusion.
Firstly, I will provide an explanation on our experiences of the earthquakes that occurred in recent years and the countermeasures that were adopted in response. 5

6. Midterm Plans for Safety
Safety Priority Investiment Plan Formulation of a safety-related
investment plan
Safety Basic Plan
Integrated plan covering both
tangible and intangible aspects
Safety Plan
Prevention of major accidents and
improvement of transportation quality
Safety Plan
Going back to basics and
re-approaching safety
2013 Safety Vision
Approach safety through
independent thinking and acting
3/25/2017

7. 2013 Safety Vision Creating a culture of safety Rebuilding a safety
　 Approach safety through independent thinking and acting 　
Creating a culture of safety
Safety-related human resource
development and
system improvement
New perspective I
Rebuilding a safety
management system
Taking sure steps
to reduce risks
Prevention of accidents
by evaluating risks in advande
New perspective II
Promoting active installation
of safety facilities 7

8. Train operation accidents
　 Kind of railway accidents occur 　
* Defined in Train Accident Report Regulations
Train accidents Collisions, derailments, fires
Accidents at level crossings
(Collisions or contact with trains at crossings)
Accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities (Accidents causing deaths or injuries to people [excluding suicides])
Accidents causing damage to property
(Accidents causing JPY 5 million or more in property damage)
Train operation accidents
Events
requiring
attention
Events with high possibility of passenger or employee death or injury
Transportation
disruption
Events requiring
reporting
Events that could lead to a railway operation accident, events causing a major impact on passengers, and events caused by human error
Mai hyatto
Events that were caught in advance, and for which the stipulated handling was conducted as a result
Events causing concern on a regular basis
Events causing an impact or delay in train operations 8

9. Train accidents (all JNR and All JR)
(No. of accidents)
Collisions
Derailments
Fires
2011
Fiscal year 9

10. Trend of railway operation accidents
3/25/2017
Number of Railway Operating Accidents
[Number of accidents]
Trend of railway operation accidents
Number of accidents
per million kilometers
Railway damage accidents
Accidents causing personal injury
Crossing obstacle accidents
Train accidents
Accidents per million operating km
[Fiscal year]
Reduced by approximately one third since JR established 10 10

11. Major past accidents（１）
1951　Sakuragicho train fire　　106 deaths
1962　Mikawashima train collision　159 deaths
1963　Tsurumi train collision　　　161 deaths 11

12. Major past accidents（２）
1988　Higashinakano Station train collision　2 deaths
2005　Fukuchiyama Line derailment
　　　　　　　　　　　　　107 deaths
2005　Uetsu Line derailment　5 deaths 12 12

13. History of railway accidents
○1951 Sakuragicho train fire
　　　　→ Improvements to train body structure, window structure, and connecting doors; train announcements; safety manifesto
○1962 Mikawashima train collision
　　　　→ ATS improvement, radio alarms for train protection, regulation revisions, establishment of railway labor science institute
●1987 Japanese National Railways privatized and divided, and JR established
○1988 Higashinakano train collision
　　　　→ ATS-P improvement, safety research institute, training center, Midterm Plans for Safety
○1988 Rokuhara derailment → disaster prevention information system
○1991 Shigaraki Kogen Railway collision → substitute blocking on single track prohibited as general rule
○1992 Osuga crossing accident → obstacle detection equipment, OH warning device
○1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake → anti-seismic reinforcement measures on elevated bridges
○1997 Accident at Katahama on the Tokaido Line→blocking instructions operations
○2004 Shinkansen derailment caused by the Chuetsu Earthquake
　　　　→ train breakaway prevention measures, early earthquake detection system, power outage detection equipment
○2005 Fukuchiyama Line derailment → ATS equipment for curved tracks
○2005 Uetsu Line derailment → expansion of anemometers, gale warning systems,
　　　　　　disaster prevention research center, operating regulations and Doppler radar research using weather information
〇2011 Great East Japan Earthquake → anti-seismic reinforcement measures expanded, behavioral guidelines for tsunami occurence 13 13

14. Trend in safety investments
Safety Basic Plan
Investment results
(Hundred millions of yen)
Safety Priority Investment Plan
Safety Plan 2008
2013 Safety Vision
Safety Plan 21
4000
3950
(planned)
Approximately JPY 750 billion
(Five years)
safety Investment
3637
3234
3544
Total investment
3211
3153
3074
3000
2773
2753
2459
2355
2414
2262
2238
2234
2236
2223
2270
2189
2146
2096
2038
2000
1961
1818
1679
1749
1560
1676
1630
(planned)
1519
1301
1349
1177
1063
1080
1112
979
970
1023
1017
1000
885
892
892
895
944
886
889
872
829
813
550
　 Conduct a total safety investment of over JPY 2.7 trillion
276
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012 14
Fiscal Year 14

15. Risk analysis based on results Before Fukuchiyama Line accident
100
●:Average of all JR rail accidents
■: Reference (JR East)
Fiscal 1987 to 2007
all JR figures
Annual average frequency of occurrence (times per year)
Falls 10
Crossing
Door jamming
Rain
Running through signal 1
Falling rocks
Brake handling error (bumper)
Track obstruction
Track work
Excessive speed
Other
Wind
Earthquake
Automobile intrusion
External obstacle
0.1
Excessive speed
Non-blocking
Before Fukuchiyama Line accident
After Fukuchiyama Line accident
0.01 1 10
100
1000
Average number of deaths for accidents that caused deaths (persons per time) 15 15

16. Evaluating new risk Past crossing accidents Derailment: 21 cases
June 18 , 1989 Nambu Line
October 12, 1999 Seibu Railway
September 26, 2002 Nagoya Railroad
Number of level crossing accidents over the past 20 years
Ranking for
potential damage
Derailment: 21 cases
A: Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, Tokyo metropolitan area large earthquake(assumption)
B: Osutakayama airplane disaster, Tsunami collision, Mikawashima collision, Fukuchiyama line derailment
C: Shigaraki-kougen Railway collision, Uetsu Line derailment
D: People being hit by a train at a station platform.
Frequency
Level crossing derailment accident
Frequency of occurrence
Non-derailment
1,271 cases D C B A
Derailment accidents on multiple tracks
　Maximum potential damage ranking ⇒ B
Maximum estimation damage ranking ⇒ B 16 16

17. One misstep... Operator related Train car related Work related
(Train collision at Otsuki Station on the Chuo Line)
Passengers: approximately 550 (78 injuries)
Train car related
(Fire on the Arcadia on the Joetsu Line)
Passengers: 80 (no deaths or injuries)
Work related
(Track upheaval near Takadanobaba Station on the Yamanote Line)
Passengers: approximately 2,000 (3 injuries)
Disasters (earthquakes)
(Derailment accident on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line between Urasa and Nagaoka)
Passengers: 151
(no deaths or injuries)
Signal related
(Derailment accident at Sendai Railyard)
Passengers: 159
Track maintenance related
(Backhoe collision near Oimachi Station on the Keihin Tohoku Line)
Passengers: approximately 150 (no deaths or injuries) 17 17

18. Risk evaluation and countermeasures
Frequency of occurrence
Contact with rolling stock on station platform
Level crossing derailment accidents
Dragging caused by door jamming
Derailments due to falling rocks
Derailments due to excess speed
Wheel-climb derailment, sand, and gravel
Mafor earthquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area
Low-speed derailment
D　 　　C　 　　B　　 　A
Maximum estimation damage ranking 18 18

19. Major countermeasures
Countermeasures against Tokyo metropolitan area large earthquake
Countermeasures against excessive speed;
Countermeasures against miscommunication
Detecting and stopping trains at an early stage, examining the earthquake-proof measures on each line
For train drivers, the installation of ATS※-P or ATS-Ps and countermeasures to prevent excessive speed at tenporary speed restrictions.
※ATS:automatic train stop
For dispatchers, improving train radio systems and installing asystem with automatic communication to drivers and conductors on trains.
Countermeasures against level crossing derailment accidents
Countermeasures that prevent pedestrians from crossing just in front of moving trains, countermeasures against secondary damage, installation of crossing obstacle detectors according to the danger level at crossings outside of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Safety measures for station platform
Countermeasures against natural disasters
Installing movable platform barriers, increasing the number of emergency train stop devices, measures for safety of escalators and elevators, countermeasures that prevent passengers from falling between car and platform.
Reliable countermeasures against rock falls and landslips. 19 19

20. Countermeasures against Tokyo metropolitan area large earthquake
The times in the circle are the times needed for arrival to the city center
(An earthquake in the north of Tokyo Bay used as calculation example)
25s
15s
10s
　Chuo Line (Ochanomizu to Suidobashi)
Embankment (retaining walls, etc.)
Reinforcement example (ground anchor)
Reinforcement of particularly weak sections
15s
20s
25s
Earthquake
occurs
Prompt detection
Emergency stop when earthquake occurs
Automatic braking
Early detection and early stopping
Expanding anti-seismic reinforcements 20 20

21. countermeasures against secondary damage
due to level crossing derailment accident
Stance towards countermeasures until now
○ Countermeasures focused on recurrence prevention
　・Countermeasures in response to gridlocks
inside crossings
　・Countermeasures in areas immediately
before crossings, etc.
Crossing obstacle detection equipment
Accident example
　Collision of train and automobile at the level crossing
Large crossing rod
New stance towards countermeasures
○ Countermeasures focused on advanced prevention
　・Countermeasures preventing secondary damage
　・Countermeasures in areas immediately
before crossings, etc.
Assumed accident case
　Collision train from opposite direction with
car of derailed train
River
Breakaway prevention guard (example)
Assumed accident case
　There is a river or tunnel in the area 21 21

22. Safety measures for station platform Escalator safety measures
Office station
Emergency train stop
alarm system
To elevator center
Platform edge doors
I/F
Footboard side plate
(2) Gentle stop function
　　　　　　⇒ Motor replacement
(3) Enhanced braking power
　　　　⇒ Brake replacement
(1) Changed safety equipment operating conditions
Lead-in portion of handrail belt
Escalator safety measures 22 22

23. Countermeasures for serious accidents
The Uetsu Line accident
・Research on using Doppler radar
・Using weather information
・Expanding the installation of anemometers,
and increasing the sections to speed
restrictions when winds are high
・Expansion of windbreak fences
The Joetsu Shinkansen derailment
・ Breakaway prevention guard
・Countermeasures against rail 　
　rollover
・Continuing seismic reinforcement
of elevates bridges
・Expanding the early earthquake detection and train
stopping systems
The Fukuchiyama Line derailment
・Preventing excessive speed by
installing ATS
・Introducing automatically transmitted
train protection radio signals
・Signal passed at danger prevented by installing ATS-Ps 23 23

24. Overview of the Great East Japan Earthquake
2017/3/25
Overview of the Great East
Japan Earthquake
Occurred: Friday, March 11, 2011 at around 14:46 Epicenter: Sanriku Oki (approximately 130 km east-southeast of Oshika Peninsula (N38.0, E142.9)) Earthquake magnitude: M 9.0 (maximum magnitude of 7 = Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Number of aftershocks
Magnitude of approximately upper/lower 6: 1 time Magnitude of approximately upper/lower 5: 14 times (as of 15:00, 3/31)
Observed Si value: 85.4 kine at Shin-Sanbongi (Shinkansen)
98.5 kine at Yabuki (conventional line) 44.0 kine at Shin-Urayasu (conventional line)　　
[Reference] Shinkansen operations suspended at 18 kine or above
Morioka
Sendai
Niigata
Epicenter
Fukushima
Nagano
Takasaki
Omiya
Tokyo
Map of estimated distribution of seismic intensity
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (March 11, :00) 24 24 24

25. Damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake
(trains and train cars)
2017/3/25
Between Matsuiwa and Saichi on the Kesennuma Line:
　Overturning
Ishinomaki Station on the Senseki Line: Flooding
Tsugaruishi Station on the Yamada Line: Derailment
Between Tomei and Nobiru on the Senseki Line: Derailment
Onagawa Station on the Ishinomaki Line: Overturning
Sendai Shinko: Derailment and flooding
Nagacho Station on the Tohoku Line: Derailment
Sendai Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line: Derailment
Hamayoshida Station on the Joban Line:
　Flooding and overturning 25
Shinchi Station on the Joban Line: Overturning 25 25

26. Damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (ground equipment)
2017/3/25
Damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (ground equipment)
Between Sendai and Shinkansen General Railyard Center on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line: Electric pole breakage
Between Sakunami and Yatsumori on the Senzan Line: Embankment runoff
Between Shin-Hanamaki and Morioka on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line: Elevated bridge pillar damage (reinforcements exposed)
Between Nagacho and Miyagino on the Tohoku Freight Line: Retaining wall landslide and embankment runoff
Between Niwasaka and Akaiwa on the Ou Line: Retaining wall tilting and track bed runoff
Hitachitaga Station on the Joban Line: Platform retaining wall collapsed
Between Fukushima and Higashifukushima on the Tohoku Line: Bridge girder angle portion damage
Slippage
Between Nobukata and Kashimajingu on the Kashima Line: Bridge girder slippage
Between Yabuki and Izumisawa on the Tohoku Line:　Embankment sinking 26 26 26

27. (1) Structural reinforcements
Existing countermeasures against earthquake
(1) Structural reinforcements
Seismic reinforcement of elevated bridges
(2) Emergency train stops
Improvements in the Shinkansen early
　　　　　　 earthquake detection system
Installation of train stop detection equipment in train cars
(3) Measures that keep trains close to the track when there is a deralment
L-shaped car guide
Countermeasures against rail rollover 27 27

28. Expanding countermeasures against earthquake
Further strengthening through anti-seismic reinforcement measures
・ Preparations for an earthquake directly under the Tokyo Metropolitan Area
Countermeasures for earthquake directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area
(Viaduct columns, embankments and bridges, etc.)
・ Expansion of countermeasures based on experience of Great East Japan
Earthquake
Decreasing damage after the occurrence of an earthquake 　
・ Expanding the installation of seismometers
・ Strengthening communication functions, enhancing capacity of batteries at communications offices, etc.
・ Speedy search and rescue after the occurrence of an earthquake and measures to ensure the maintenance of the functions
of the Countermeasures Headquarters.
Tsunami countermeasures
・ re-examination of the way how our manuals and training should be, establishment of a disaster message board and
emergency evacuation routes, etc. 28 28

29. Thank you for your attention