The Shinkansen bullet train, capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, is set to operate unmanned on the Joetsu line by the mid-2030s.
On September 10, East Japan Railway Company (JR East), one of the major railway operators in Japan, announced that the Shinkansen bullet train may begin operating without a driver starting in the mid-2030s.
Japan’s Joetsu Shinkansen line currently has a maximum speed of 275 km/h. (Photo: Deposit Photos)
Initially, JR East will introduce trains with many driver tasks automated, although a driver will still be present in the cockpit on certain sections of the line starting in 2028. The following year, the company aims to test unmanned trains on a short, unused section of track. Subsequently, the new trains will operate between Tokyo and Niigata on the Joetsu Shinkansen line by the mid-2030s.
“By realizing unmanned operations and transforming railway management into an efficient and sustainable system, we will adapt to changes in the social environment such as population decline and reforms in work styles,” JR East stated.
However, according to a company spokesperson, the main driving force behind this plan is the continuous demand for innovation in railway technology, which could help address labor shortages and other issues. Japan currently has the second oldest population in the world, after Monaco, and it is experiencing a decline.
The maximum speed of the Shinkansen bullet train on the Joetsu line is 275 km/h, but on other lines, they can run at speeds of 300 km/h or faster. The iconic Shinkansen trains have been a key part of high-speed public transport in Japan for over half a century, weaving through major urban areas across the country. They now operate entirely on electricity and are lighter than previous train models.
