From 2 to 5 June 2025, a UIC-JR East workshop on “Enhancing reliability and resilience for railway operation” was held in Tokyo, Japan. Co-hosted by UIC and East Japan Railway Company (JR East), the workshop welcomed 11 participants from Australia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.
The workshop aimed to improve the reliability and resilience of railway transport in the Asia-Pacific region, where demand for rail services continues to grow. Focusing on disaster management operations and training relevant staff, the participants were able to share the challenges faced by their respective organisations, with JR East contributing its expertise and experience in these areas, facilitating interactive discussions among attendees.
Programme highlights
Day 1:
The workshop began with a welcome speech from Philippe Lorand, UIC Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Region, followed by an introduction to JR East’s corporate profile.
The participants then outlined their organisations’ operational responses and training initiatives during natural disasters. Next, a video lecture on UIC’s Opt-in Project related to earthquake preparedness was delivered by Francisco Cabrera Jeronimo, UIC Deputy Head of Operations and Safety, and Hugo Patricio, Infrastructure Senior Advisor. In the afternoon, the participants visited the Tokyo General Control Centre to learn about Japanese operational systems, including disaster response mechanisms.
Day 2:
In the morning, the participants toured locations where JR East has installed disaster management systems and carried out countermeasure construction. In the afternoon, they reconvened to share the insights gained from the workshop, including:
- Impressions of JR East’s early warning systems, integrated monitoring, and VR-based training
- Recognition where their own disaster management systems need modernising by referencing JR East’s technologies and training frameworks
Day 3:
The participants visited JR East’s General Education Centre to observe education and training programmes that support safe and stable railway operations. They toured the JR East Railway Accident History Exhibition Hall and tested various simulators used for crew training, engaging in hands-on learning activities.
Day 4:
The final day featured a comprehensive introduction to JR East’s crew education and training practices, which form the foundation of safe and reliable transport. In the afternoon, the attendees visited a crew depot to observe real-world training and daily management practices.
As on Day 2, the participants presented their learnings and reflections, with feedback including:
- A deep appreciation for JR East’s commitment to safety
- Recognition of how important continuous training and fostering a safety culture is
- A acknowledgment that simulators are an effect way of enhancing practical workshops
For more information about JR-East, please vist the JR-East official website and LinkedIn.
Web: Global Railway Business
LinkedIn: https://jp.linkedin.com/company/jreast
Acknowledgements
The workshop was conducted with the approval of the UIC Asia-Pacific Region members and funded by the region’s budget. JR East would like to thank all of the members who supported the workshop programme, the participants, and the UIC staff for their organisation.
