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Why does it take so long to resume operation when a human injury accident occurs?
In the event of an accident involving injury, train operation for an affected section will remain suspended until all necessary procedures including rescue of any injured people and on-site verification by police are completed, until adjacent tracks are checked, until police, emergency service personnel, and JR-West staff and others dispatched to the site have left the tracks, and until all aspects of on-site safety are confirmed.
Even as we strive to enforce various countermeasures, safe operation is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Measures to Prevent Injurious Contact with Trains
To prevent injurious contact with trains, JR-West promotes the following initiatives.
Preventative measures on platforms
[Platform screen doors]
The development and maintenance of platform screen doors is intended to prevent those on the platform from falling or coming to contact with trains.
[Punctiform blocks with inner lines]
Linear protrusions are included on the inner side of punctiform blocks for immediate recognition of central platform areas.
Click here for more information(link to Japanese page).
[CP (color psychology) lines]
Red lines painted along the platform help to improve visibility of platform edges.
[Revised platform bench orientation]
Through analysis of actions taken by those who have fallen from the platform while intoxicated, JR-West discovered that most tended to stand up suddenly from the bench and walk straight forward, toward the tracks. To counter this, bench orientation has been revised to be perpendicular to the tracks.
[Platform emergency buttons]
Emergency buttons have been set up to notify station staff and crew members in the event of an emergency such as if someone falls from the platform.
[Blue LEDs]
Blue lighting has been installed on platforms to provide a calming effect. Installation of such equipment will continue to be promoted following verification of the suspected effects.
[Remote security cameras]
Cameras that automatically detect abnormal situations such as unsteady walking, people sitting for extended periods, track invasion from the platform, and crowded platforms are being installed to notify station staff in order to protect customers. (Currently, such cameras are installed at Kyobashi, Shin-Imamiya, and Sannomiya stations.)
Preventative measures between stations
[Fencing between stations]
Fencing is installed along tracks to prevent entry.
Preventative measures at railroad crossings
[Object detection equipment]
Object detection equipment detects any cars or other devices that remain on railroad crossings longer than they should, and automatically notify crew of the object’s presence.
[Omni-directional railroad crossing warning lights]
JR-West is promoting the installation of omni-directional railroad crossing warning lights that can be easily seen from any direction.
[Railroad crossing emergency buttons]
Emergency buttons at railroad crossings can be used to notify crew members of objects such as cars or people that cannot be moved from the crossing. When pressed, a special signal light illuminates to notify the crew of the object’s presence.
[Blue LEDs]
Blue lighting has been installed at railroad crossings to provide a calming effect. Installation of such equipment will continue to be promoted following verification of the suspected effects.
Educational activities
[Activities in cooperation with Inochi no Denwa]
Suicide by railroad results not only in the loss of precious life but also a heavy social impact due to train stoppage. Posters and other media created jointly by the JR-West Relief Foundation and Inochi no Denwa (a suicide prevention line servicing the six prefectures of the Kinki area) are posted at various stations throughout the Kyoto–Osaka–Kobe area.
[Platform accident prevention campaign]
JR-West regularly holds public notice campaigns calling attention to efforts to prevent intoxicated individuals or those with poor physical condition from being injured by trains or falling onto the tracks while walking along the platform.
Operation Resumption Flow Chart
A human injury accident occurs
The conductor stops the train and sends an urgent stop signal to nearby trains to prevent further accidents or injury. The conductor then immediately reports the situation to the control office managing train operations, and the crew verifies the safety of passengers aboard the train.
Operation of the train involved and all subsequent trains stops
The crew verifies the situation, and as soon as the appropriate checks have been made, controllers issue instructions for resuming operation for any trains that do not affect the rescue of injured individuals. Operation of the train involved and all subsequent trains remains suspended.
Appropriate on-site actions are taken
On-Site Actions
- ・Emergency rescuing of injured individuals
- ・On-site verification by police
- ・Inspection for sediment inflow/outflow
- ・Taking of statements by police of those involved (operator of the train involved, individuals nearby, individuals onboard) Searching for relevant property, etc.
If an accident occurs at night, rescuing the injured and searching for relevant property may take some time
Emergency services, police, and dispatched staff clear the tracks
After all injured individuals have been rescued and on-site verification has been completed, safety checks for resuming operation will be performed, including clearing from the area all emergency services, police officers, and staff dispatched to the site.
Arrangements are made to restart operation
Upon confirming the safety of a location, the control office will instruct the trains to resume operation while also providing the necessary information for train operation ordering and specific instructions for certain sections.
Trains return to normal operation schedules
As train operation resumes, railway staff will strive to restore the normal operation schedule as quickly as possible.
Accidents that occur during the morning or evening rush hours may affect numerous trains, so it may take some time before the normal operation schedule is restored.
