Editorial: 20 yrs after west Japan derailment disaster, safety efforts remain paramount

The Mainichi

25-04-2025

April 25 marks 20 years since a morning rush hour train derailed on the JR Fukuchiyama Line in western Japan, killing 106 passengers and the driver and injuring 562 others. The accident was attributed to the driver's delay in applying the brakes, causing the train to hurtle around a steep curve far over the speed limit.
Forming the backdrop to the deadly derailment was a reeducation program punishing train crew who made errors on duty. Dubbed "day-shift education," employees subject to the program were tasked with writing letters of remorse and continuing other work while being rebuked by superiors.
The driver of the derailed train had been through this program three times in the past. As his train had overrun a station shortly before the derailment in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, it is likely he was worried about facing the program again and lacked concentration.
In the wake of the disaster, West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) scrapped the controversial program. The railway operator also stopped imposing disciplinary measures on crew members for their errors, including when those errors led to accidents.
We urge the railway company to revisit the lessons learned from the 2005 accident while striving to keep the memory of the disaster alive.
To prevent serious accidents, it is essential to maintain an environment where mistakes are not covered up. Sharing and analyzing on-site information will help reduce risks.
As a result of prioritizing greater speed, investment in safety had been delayed and there was no automatic train stop system (ATS) at the derailment site. Measures need to be adopted on the assumption that anyone can make mistakes.
The bereaved families of the victims of the derailment played a significant role in propelling JR West's endeavors to prevent a recurrence. They took part in the review of the accident and were given an opportunity to discuss countermeasures. These unprecedented attempts became a driving force helping officials to dig deep into the railway operator's organizational problems.
Efforts to pass down the memory of the disaster are also important. More than 70% of JR West members employed today joined the firm after the accident. The company plans to establish a facility to preserve the derailed train at the end of the year. It is hoped that the facility will be utilized to raise safety awareness among employees.
However, other trouble that could have led to major accidents has occurred in recent years.
In 2017, a crack emerged in the undercarriage of a Nozomi superexpress bullet train on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line, but despite the crew having noticed abnormalities, the train continued to operate.
In East Japan Railway Co. (JR East)'s service area, meanwhile, two cars of the Hayabusa-Komachi superexpress decoupled in 2024 and then again in 2025 while running on the Tohoku Shinkansen line.
For public transport operators that are responsible for passengers' lives, ensuring safety is paramount. They should constantly inspect the status of their operations and promote both physical and procedural countermeasures. Such efforts have no end point.