JR East’s Self-Driving Bus To Start Operations In Miyagi

East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) launched a self-driving bus service on Monday along a private road constructed over the site of a former rail track of its Kesennuma Line In a seaside area of Miyagi Prefecture.

A huge autonomous bus in Japan has never been able to go at a maximum speed of 60 kph. As a substitute mode of transportation, it is gaining popularity as local railway operators struggle financially as a result of dwindling passenger traffic.

At an event last Wednesday to introduce the self-driving bus to the media in the Miyagi city of Tome, JR East executive vice-president Katsumi Ise stressed the importance of introducing dedicated roads for buses and self-driving technology to them in order to maintain modes of transportation in local areas.

JR East made the decision to implement the so-called bus rapid transit system, in which train tracks are converted to special highways for buses, after the Kesennuma Line was destroyed in the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March 2011. 

Source: The Japan News/ANN