JR Tokai unveils new train equipped security cameras

Jiji Press

December 5, 2021

KASUGAI, Aichi (Jiji Press) — Central Japan Railway Co., or JR Tokai, will introduce a new commuter train in March next year, with security cameras installed in all cars as a standard feature, in a first for a non-Shinkansen train of the company.

The 315 series train, JR Tokai’s first new train in about 22 years excluding Shinkansen bullet trains, was unveiled to journalists in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, on Friday.

The installation of security cameras inside train cars is among measures taken by JR Tokai in response to a recent series of attacks on passengers on trains.

Each car of the new train is equipped with five security cameras and an emergency call devise that allows passengers to talk with train crew.

The transport ministry plans to require railway operators to equip new train cars with surveillance cameras.

JR Tokai will put the new train into service in the Nagoya-Nakatsugawa section of the Chuo Line in March. Later, the new train will also be introduced in other lines, including the Tokaido and Kansai lines.

The new train has a bathroom for wheelchair users and features electricity consumption about 35 pct lower than the existing 211 series.

With the introduction of the 315-series train, all trains JR Tokai inherited from the former Japanese National Railways will retire in March.