MESSAGEMessage from the President
Utilizing the Latest Technology
to Safeguard Railway Infrastructure
to Safeguard Railway Infrastructure
President and Representative Director
Tsuyoshi Tabuchi
Tsuyoshi Tabuchi
Our Key Strength: The Ability to Maintain Both Tracks and Structures
Since the time of the former Japanese National Railways (JNR), track inspection operations have been conducted nationwide on both conventional lines and Shinkansen lines using dedicated inspection vehicles. In addition, large-scale track maintenance using heavy machinery has been extensively carried out on Shinkansen lines and conventional lines.Following the reform of JNR and its privatization and division into regional Japan Railways (JR) companies, Nishi Nippon Kikai Hosen Co., Ltd. was established within the JR-WEST operational area to handle track inspection and maintenance using large-scale inspection vehicles and machinery. That company was the predecessor to our current organization, JR West RAILTEC Co., Ltd. (JRW RAILTEC), which specializes in consolidating track inspection operations including track alignment checks and track maintenance operations using high-performance, large-scale machinery, such as multiple-tie tampers (MTTs) and rail reprofiling cars.
Since then, RAILTEC has expanded its operations to include general inspections of track infrastructure, starting with turnouts, as well as inspections of civil engineering structures, construction supervision (support for construction supervisors), and rail welding, ultimately evolving into a comprehensive railway infrastructure maintenance provider.
Our core business is centered on track and structure inspection and maintenance, as well as machinery inspection and repair. We excel at inspections, surveys, and consulting services for tracks and civil engineering structures. Although tracks and structures are often considered separate business areas, impacts can cascade from rolling stock to tracks and from tracks to structures. These impacts can potentially lead to failures or structural damage. Because we manage tracks and structures as an integrated system, we can develop comprehensive repair plans whenever defects are discovered. We are actively seeking to communicate this strength to other railway companies and stakeholders.
Protecting the Railway Infrastructure Under Every Possible Scenario
JRW RAILTEC's mission is to safeguard JR-West's railway infrastructure at all times, under both normal and abnormal operating conditions. This requires us to respond swiftly to natural disasters and accidents as well as to maintain resilient infrastructure that can withstand damage. In recent years, extreme weather events have become more frequent, making it difficult to prevent natural disasters entirely. Therefore, we believe it is essential to develop systems and expertise in design that can quickly restore experienced operating knowledge in the event of a disaster. To that end, the development and preservation of technical expertise are essential. The pursuit of technological advancement never ends. While some advanced techniques have been passed down through the generations, we now also have a range of advanced cutting-edge technologies that utilize AI, robotics, and IT. RAILTEC is home to many highly skilled specialists across a wide range of technical disciplines. Our policy is to combine these skills and apply them to railway infrastructure maintenance. Furthermore, in recent years, we have expanded our services to other railway operators by leveraging the expertise and know-how developed through our work with JR West. This has served to boost our employees’ motivation.
Encouraging a Spirit of Challenge by Saying, “Give It a Try”
I have always believed in the spirit embodied by the phrase, “Give it a try.” Even when people want to take on a challenge, it can be difficult to do in the absence of encouragement from those around them. People tend to worry about all sorts of things—whether it will cost money, whether it might compromise safety, or whether it might cause the company trouble. I’ve always told people, “Don’t worry about that—just give it a try.” About 90 out of every 100 attempts may end in failure. But if you don’t take risks, you can't carve out a future. What I expect from our employees is a willingness to challenge themselves, learn from failure, and continue moving forward. My message to them is simple, “give it a try.”