Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet-train network got a new wrinkle Monday with the launch of its first cargo-only trains, designed to help overcome a shortage of long-haul truck drivers.
The train, run by rail operator JR East uses rolling stock converted from passenger service for its 3 hour and 15 minute run to Tokyo, hauling up to 1,000 cargo containers on each trip. Loading and unloading takes place in rail yards, not at stations; much of that work is assigned to robots.
The company has previously hauled some freight on its passenger trains, mostly precision equipment; the freight-only service is expected to increase to deal with both the driver shortage and clean-air issues. The first train carried precision equipment and frozen scallops.
