Railway Technical Research Institute

{{Infobox organization

| name = Railway Technical Research Institute
財団法人鉄道総合技術研究所

| image = JR logo RTRI.svg

| image_size = 150px

| alt = Stylised capital J and R in blue

| map =

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| abbreviation = RTRI

| motto =

| formation = {{Start date and age|1986|12|10|df=y}}

| extinction =

| status = Public Interest Incorporated Foundation

| purpose = Railway technology research and consulting

| headquarters = 2-8-38, Hikaricho, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo

| coords =

| region_served = Japan

| membership =

| leader_title =

| leader_name = Masao Mukaidono (chair)

| main_organ =

| parent_organization =

| affiliations = Japan Railways Group

| num_staff = 512 (as of 1 October 2008)

| num_volunteers =

| budget = {{Yen|15.3 billion|link=yes}} (FY 2009)[http://www.rtri.or.jp/rtri/gyomu_zaimu/h21/pdf/6_1.pdf http://www.rtri.or.jp/rtri/gyomu_zaimu/h21/pdf/6_1.pdf]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| website = [http://www.rtri.or.jp/ rtri.or.jp]

| remarks =

}}

File:Railway technical research institute in japan.jpg]]

{{Nihongo|Railway Technical Research Institute|鉄道総合技術研究所|Tetsudō Sōgō Gijutsu Kenkyūsho}}, or {{Nihongo|RTRI|鉄道総研|Tetsudō Sōken}}, is the technical research company under the Japan Railways group of companies.

Overview

RTRI was established in its current form in 1986 just before Japanese National Railways (JNR) was privatised and split into separate JR group companies. It conducts research on everything related to trains, railways and their operation. It is funded by the government and private rail companies. It works both on developing new railway technology, such as magnetic levitation, and on improving the safety and economy of current technology.

Its research areas include earthquake detection and alarm systems, obstacle detection on level crossings, improving adhesion between train wheels and tracks, reducing energy usage, noise barriers and preventing vibrations.

File:ML100.JPG, ML100, on display outside RTRI]]

RTRI is the main developer in the Japanese SCMaglev program.

Offices and test facilities

{{Location map+|Japan|float=right|width=350|places=

{{Location map~|Japan|label= |lat_deg=35|lat_min=40|lat_sec=35|lon_deg=139|lon_min=45|lon_sec=43|mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right}}

{{Location map~|Japan|label=Gatsugi |lat_deg=38|lat_min=09|lat_sec=18|lon_deg=139|lon_min=30|lon_sec=29|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Japan|label= |lat_deg=35|lat_min=40|lat_sec=16|lon_deg=139|lon_min=23|lon_sec=41|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Japan|label=Shiozawa |lat_deg=37|lat_min=02|lat_sec=24|lon_deg=138|lon_min=50|lon_sec=58|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Japan|label=Wind Tunnel |lat_deg=35|lat_min=18|lat_sec=30|lon_deg=136|lon_min=17|lon_sec=28|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Japan|label=Kunitachi |lat_deg=35|lat_min=42|lat_sec=10|lon_deg=139|lon_min=26|lon_sec=36|position=bottom}}

|caption=RTRI　
8px Research facilities 8px Office

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=Main office=

844 Shin-Kokusai Bldg. 3-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan

=Research facilities=

Kunitachi Institute - 2-8-38 Hikari-cho, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo, 185-8540, Japan
Wind Tunnel Technical Center, Maibara, Shiga
Shiozawa Snow Testing Station, Minami-Uonuma, Niigata
Hino Civil Engineering Testing Station, Hino, Tokyo
Gatsugi Anti-Salt Testing Station, Sanpoku, Niigata

Gauge Change Train

The RTRI is developing a variable gauge system, called the "Gauge Change Train", to allow {{RailGauge|1435mm}} Shinkansen trains to access {{RailGauge|1067mm}} lines of the original rail network.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr36/pdf/f04_soe.pdf |title=Japan Railway & Transport Review - page 6 |access-date=2008-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008002026/http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr36/pdf/f04_soe.pdf |archive-date=2006-10-08 |url-status=dead }}