Track

Track for Shinkansen High Speed Rail

The slab track is a standard track on the Shinkansen high speed rails except very first Tokaido Shinkansen. Its stiffness and accuracy are advantageous for high speed train operation and maintenance compared to conventional ballasted track.
In the early days of the slab track, its shape was 'flat type'. Then lighter and more economical 'frame type slab' was invented. However, flat type is still used in snowy area.
(The technology was awarded from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers in 2011.)

Flat type slab (Tohoku Shinkansen)

Frame type slab (Hokuriku Shinkansen)

Track for Conventional Rail

Considering environment, less noisy and vibration-proof 'direct-fastened elastic sleepers' are used on urban railways. Ballastless track with this 'direct-fastened elastic sleeper' can also reduce maintenance efforts and its stiffness contributes to robust urban transportation.

Ballastless track with direct-fastened elastic sleepers (Narita Sky Access Line)