• Changes in Japan’s social environment, such as a decrease in population and new work styles, are behind East Japan Railway Company’s innovative step towards driverless operation, which will continue to transform the JR East Group into a more efficient and sustainable railway, as set out in the Group’s Management Vision “Move UP” 2027.

• Automated operation is expected to further increase levels of safety and reliability in transport, as well as contributing to greater efficiency in operations. Driverless operation will allow trains to operate more flexibly according to passenger demand and free train crews to perform other important tasks.

• The Jōetsu Shinkansen has been selected as the world’s first high-speed railway line to run on driverless operation, and will be followed by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Tōhoku Shinkansen, ensuring JR East’s place as a pioneer in driverless operation technology on the world’s railways.

Driverless operation is defined as automated operations that do not require a driver to be on board.

(Source: JR East)