Looks like the future is inching ever closer. JR East recently announced plans to make its Yamanote line driverless by 2035 as a part of its 'Pride & Integrity 2034' initiative, which will focus on safety and technological advancements in public transport. The railway company had already tested automated trains back in 2022, so the next phase of the operation appears to be right on track (sorry).
The decision to automate comes partially in response to an expected driver shortage. By 2035, Japan's workforce is projected to be 20 percent smaller than it is now as the country's population continues to decline, though several other factors also play a role. Energy consumption is one of them, as JR East hopes to reduce energy usage by 40% and CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030.
The company also aims to reduce railway accidents by 30% by 2031 with the switch, but given that the Japan Transport Safety Board has reported fewer than 500 railway-related incidents like train derailments, red signal violations or collisions over the past 24 years, we'd say the system is already pretty darn safe. Nevertheless, JR East states that it aims to 'keep up with the changes in safety levels expected by society', so kudos.
Thankfully, humans won't be done away with entirely. Instead, they'll be delegated tasks that yield 'a higher level of hospitality', such as interacting with passengers and dealing with on-site problems at stations. Overall, JR East estimates its 'Pride & Integrity 2034' plan will generate over ¥2 trillion in revenue.
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