CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Annual Report 2007

After the Kobe Earthquake in 1995, the entire Tokaido Shinkansen line was surveyed
for earthquake resistance to find all of the elevated track columns that were deemed to
require reinforcement. We are already implementing the required work ahead of
schedule. Additionally, we have been working to reinforce all the elevated track
columns between Mishima and Toyohashi Stations, which were designated as requiring
reinforcement since the “expected wave patterns” for a future Tokai Earthquake
published by the Japanese government in May 2003 suggest ground motion in this area
could be particularly strong. We are also making steady progress in implementing the
earthquake-resistant reinforcement of embankments.
JR Central is also devising measures to minimize the impact of other natural disasters on
its railway operations. For example, we are conducting various kinds of trainings to
restore the diagrams into good condition as early as possible, including training for the
rapid communication of information in accordance with prescribed communication
network. To protect railway lines from rain, wind, snow and other inclement weather,
we are improving related facilities including embankments and cutting slopes in addition
to installing and improving facilities and devices for the prevention and detection of
falling rocks. Additionally, in extreme situations when wind speeds or rainfall exceeds
certain levels, operations are restricted to guarantee safe and reliable transportation.
Locations of TERRA-S Detection Points
Harima
Shin-
Osaka
Awazi
Tsuruga
Kawane
Minobu
Seismometers alongside railway lines (additionally)(25)
Seismometers alongside railway lines (installed)(25)
Detection point (1)
Detection point (additionally)(6)
Detection point (installed)(14)
Sayama Shimofusa
Tokyo
Additional detection points will be installed by September 2007
Train Control System in the Case of Earthquakes
Tokai General Control Center
Earthquake Rapid
Alarm System
General Control Center of
Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen
Train
Radio
Transmit train
to stop
Relay
Station
Substation
Stop Electricity
Driving simulators
Seismometer
Convertional Earthquake
Data Transmission System
Detector
S Wave
P Wave
Epicenter
Education and Training
To ensure safe and reliable transportation, JR Central implements safety education and
training for the employees engaging in train operations and facility maintenance. In
particular, we regularly confirm the knowledge and skills of train drivers and conductors
in order to be thoroughly prepared to maintain safety. We also work to strengthen our
ability to respond to accidents by holding training sessions that simulate actual accidents,
such as the simulated repair of derailed rolling stock, as well as training and competitions
that include the repair of track, power cable and signal facilities.
In addition, at JR Central, which is seeing a peak in the number of retirees, in order to see
that technological know-how is passed down to the incoming generation of employees,
we are striving to improve the education and skills of employees by implementing group
training, specialty training, and OJT at each workplace for new hires and according to
various career stages of employees. Furthermore, we are striving to have the vast amount
of knowledge and experience passed down to younger workers by re-hiring those former
employees who have reached retirement age and still wish to continue working as
contract employees.
General training session simulating actual accidents
11