TOKYO REPORT: Japanese Railway Firms Adopt AI Safety Systems at Crossings

Tokyo, June 22 (Jiji Press)–A growing number of Japanese railway operators are introducing artificial intelligence-based systems to help prevent accidents involving trains at level crossings. The technology can automatically detect and report abnormalities, such as stalled vehicles or people trapped on the tracks, enabling train drivers and other railway staff to respond more quickly. Industry officials view AI as an effective tool for improving crossing safety, while the government has started offering financial support to encourage wider adoption. No Human Involvement Kintetsu Railway Co., based in Osaka, western Japan, has tested an AI-equipped camera system at a crossing on the Kyoto Line in the town of Seika, Kyoto Prefecture. In video footage from the test, an elliptical marker appears around people as they cross the tracks. A blue outline indicates that the AI-powered detection system has identified pedestrians in the crossing. In one instance, the crossing gates came down before an elderly-looking pedestrian, who appeared to be dragging one foot, was able to leave the crossing. The person was left inside the gates and unable to pass underneath them. When the system detected imminent danger, the marker changed to reddish purple. The individual eventually escaped with help from people nearby, but the ellipse remained reddish purple for the several seconds the pedestrian was still inside the crossing. Full-scale operation of the system began at the crossing in May. When the marker turns reddish purple, the emergency notification button is activated automatically, alerting nearby trains and relevant railway departments to the abnormality. For about a year from April last year, Kintetsu Railway conducted demonstration tests at two locations, including the Seika crossing, to assess the AI-based system’s detection capabilities. A detailed review of about 80 days of data found seven cases in which people temporarily remained inside a crossing or were unable to get out immediately. “The accumulation of such dangerous situations could lead to a serious accident,” a company official said. “We hope the system will help eliminate even a single case of hazard.” Vehicle Traffic AI-supported detection systems are also being tested for improving vehicle user safety at railway crossings. Nagoya Railroad Co., based in the central Japan city of Nagoya, has introduced such a system at about 50 crossings. The company is also researching technology to prevent vehicles from entering crossings when nearby roads are congested. As part of the effort, it conducted a demonstration experiment for about two months from last December at a crossing on the Kowa Line in Handa, Aichi Prefecture. The experiment used ETC 2.0, a next-generation electronic toll collection system used on expressways and other roads. When an ETC 2.0-equipped vehicle approached the crossing during traffic congestion, an AI detection device installed beside the crossing triggered an automated voice message from the vehicle’s onboard unit, warning, “Be careful of congestion beyond the crossing.” Following the system’s introduction, the number of vehicles that remained inside the crossing for a certain length of time fell by about 40 pct. “We expect the system to become even more effective as ETC 2.0 adoption increases,” a company official said. Osaka-based Nankai Electric Railway Co. began trial use of an AI detection system in 2024 at a crossing on the Koya Line in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. About 17 meters from one side to the other, it takes time to cross, making additional safety measures an urgent priority. To limit costs, the company plans to make use of existing surveillance cameras. National Govt Support According to the transport ministry, around 200 accidents have occurred annually at railway crossings across Japan in recent years, resulting in about 100 deaths each year. Many of the accidents involve elderly people who get trapped inside crossings due to their reduced walking speed or declining cognitive abilities. In the current fiscal year that began in April, the ministry launched a subsidy program for railway operators that introduce AI-based safety systems. “We want to promote any measures that help prevent accidents,” a ministry official said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]