JR East: Earthquake Measures and their effectiveness 11 July 2012, Parallel sessions: Operation 1 (Risk analysis)
Content Part 1 Outline of JR East and our risk evaluation Part 2 Two earthquakes that occurred in the recent past and countermeasures taken after these earthquakes 1) The South Hyogo (Kobe) Earthquake: Jan. 17, 1995 2) The Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake: Oct. 23, 2004 Part 3 Effectiveness of these measures in the East Japan Earthquake of Mar. 11, 2011 1) Emergency train-stopping system (Early Earthquake Detection System) 2) Aseismic reinforcement of structures including viaduct pillars 3) Prevention of major derailment 2
( As of 1 April 2011 ) Outline of JR East Employees: 59,650 Working line-kilometers: 7,512.6 km Stations: 1,689 Passengers carried: About 17 million/day Trains operated: 12,732/day Units of rolling stock: 13,104 Niigata Shin-Aomori Shinjo Akita Morioka Hachinohe Nagano Sendai The Shinkansen(HSR) HSR: High Speed Rail Tokyo Shinkansen lines Conventional lines Series E5, with a top speed of 300 km/h. Planned to be 320 km/h by 2013. Number of trains between Tokyo and Omiya per hour :15 Average Delay per train: 0.6 minutes No fatalities have occurred in nearly half a century of service (since 1964) 3
Our Risk evaluation (Frequent) Frequency of occurrence Contact with rolling stock on station platform Level crossing derailment accident Wheel-climb derailment, sand, and gravel Derailment due to excess speed Major earthquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area Our safety investments for the 5 years beginning in 2009 will be approximately 750 billion (approximately $9.5 billion US) (Infrequent) (Small) Low-speed derailment Maximum estimated damage (Large) 4
Two earthquakes that occurred in the recent past The South Hyogo (Kobe) Earthquake 5:46 AM, January 15, 1995 Magnitude 7.3 on the Richter scale The Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake 5:56 PM, October 23, 2004 Magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale Shinkansen (HSR) at JR West Damage to railway structures Aseismic reinforcement Shinkansen (HSR) at JR East Derailment Emergency train-stopping system Prevention of major derailment 5
The Pacific Coast in the East Japan Earthquake Date & Time 2:46 PM, March 11, 2011 Epicenter 130 kilometers east-southeast southeast of Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture Strength Magnitude 9.0 on Richter scale The largest in the recorded history of Japan Around 16 thousand people were killed and 3 thousand people are missing. Epicenter Destroyed by Tsunami ( Conventional lines ) 6
Effects of countermeasures for this earthquake Consequences of Earthquake & Tsunami Customer fatalities 0 Customer injuries 0 Shinkansen(HSR) lines Emergency train-stopping system Aseismic reinforcement Conventional lines Station staff and train crews successfully led customers to the emergency evacuation areas before the tsunami hit. Hazard maps Training Signs for evacuation area 7
1Emergency train-stopping system (Early Earthquake Detection System) When the coastline seismometer detects a primary wave Power shutdown Emergency brakes Detects P wave Coastline seismometer Substation Primary wave Secondary wave Epicenter 8
Hayate No.27(Running at about 270 km/h) Alarm & power shutdown 270 km/h (170 mph) Emergency brakes First shock arrives (Figures are approximations) Largest shock arrives 100 km/h (63 mph) 3 sec. 10 sec. 70 sec. 0 m 100 sec. 200 m 900 m 4000 m 4400 m The largest shock hit this train about 70 seconds after its emergency brakes were applied. By then, it is supposed that the trains had reached a speed of about 100 km/h (63 mph.) 9
Improvement of the Emergency train-stopping system 1: Increasing number of seismometers for Shinkansen 63 locations 90 locations (2006) 97 locations (2010) 127 locations (2012) 2: Shortening operating time Digital ATC device (on board) Power shutdown Detect voltage decrease Emergency brake signal Emergency brake relay Emergency brakes Approx.4 Sec. Power shutdown detector (newly newly-built built) Detect voltage decrease Detect fracture of frequency Emergency brake relay (for power shutdown) Approx. 3 Sec. (Shortened ( by 1 sec.) 10
2 Aseismic reinforcement Aseismic reinforcement No critical quake destruction to major structures this time. 3Prevention of major derailment L-shaped car guide Device against overturning of rail A guide mechanism prevents cars from moving in transverse direction when derailed. 11
We are taking positive steps to deal with a major seismic event centered in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Thank you for your kind attention.