The autonomous service, which could be the world's first for high-speed trains, will initially operate with a driver onboard for emergencies.
The 55.7-kilometer stretch between Nagaoka and Niigata stations in northwest Japan will serve as the testing ground for this technological advancement. JR East aims to expand fully driverless operations across the entire Joetsu Shinkansen Line by the mid-2030s.
Company officials cite improved safety, reduced human errors, and mitigation of future driver shortages as key motivations behind the initiative. JR East President Yoichi Kise told the press that the self-driving technology helps the company to make train schedules more flexible while allowing its "train staff members to engage in a wider range of tasks."
The railway giant plans to commence fully autonomous out-of-service bullet train operations between Niigata Station and a nearby rail yard in fiscal 2029, following the initial phase of driver-supervised autonomous service.
JR East is also considering expanding self-driving capabilities to other bullet train lines, including the Hokuriku and Tohoku Shinkansen services. Meanwhile, Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), which operates the busy Tokyo-Osaka Tokaido Shinkansen Line, has separately announced plans to introduce autonomous bullet trains around 2028.
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