S. Korea, Japan rail research institutes join forces to shape global railway standards

South Korea and Japan's leading railway research institutes have agreed to work together to secure early adoption of international standards that will shape technological leadership in the global railway market.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute said it held the 15th Korea-Japan Railway Standards International Cooperation Meeting with Japan's Railway Technical Research Institute on Wednesday at the Novotel Ambassador in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

More than 20 railway standards experts from both institutions attended, sharing updates on international standardization efforts and discussing strategies for joint responses.

The annual meeting serves as a forum for the two sides to jointly identify and cooperate on international standards across core railway sectors, including rolling stock, track and civil engineering, and electrical and signaling systems.

At the meeting, the Korea Railroad Research Institute presented its progress on international standardization for electric track switches, platform screen door testing methods and wireless power transfer technology.

Japan's Railway Technical Research Institute shared trends in international standards related to track design and updates on the international standard for railway vehicle side-door access systems (ISO 26103). It also described its experience mediating technical differences between Japan and Europe during the development of an international standard for validating railway power supply system simulation tools.

The Japanese delegation visited the Korea Railroad Research Institute's main campus and test facilities in Uiwang, touring advanced research infrastructure that included a three-dimensional railway noise reproduction simulator, a hyperloop system laboratory, a rail-and-rough-terrain dual-mode robot and control platform, and a platform screen door testing facility.

The two institutions agreed to jointly identify new international standardization projects and strengthen coordinated responses at international standardization meetings going forward.

Shin Gyeong-ho, head of the institute's Railway Testing and Certification Division, said international standards determine which technologies will be adopted in global markets. "Building on 15 years of cooperation with the Railway Technical Research Institute, we will strengthen our joint efforts to establish Korean railway technology as international standards," Shin said.

Sa Gong-myeong, president of the Korea Railroad Research Institute, said international railway standards are a core foundation supporting the global competitiveness of Korean railway technology. "We will expand strategic cooperation with the Railway Technical Research Institute and other leading railway research institutions around the world to take the lead in shaping international standards," Sa said.