Toshiki Kitagaw
General Director,
Railway International Standards Center
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Introduction
The Railway International Standards Center (RISC) of the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) was established and commenced its activities on April 1, 2010. Our center was founded on the consensus of governments, railway operators, railway-related industries and standard development-related technical associations following discussions focused on the government’s strategy concerning international standards. It is a membership organization which is composed of companies and organizations representing a broad spectrum of the railway industry and its technologies in Japan.
RISC’s activities include the centralized management and deliberation related to international standards of the railway field. We propose strategies and plans valuable to the development of railway-related industries. We also gather and spread information, as well as help in the development of human resources involved in international standardization. Our work is influential in bringing about a safer, more eco-friendly and more technologically advanced future for both Japan and the rest of the world.
In recent years, there has been an increase in activity related to the introduction of railway systems that are both energy efficient and environmentally-friendly. Meanwhile, the railway business increasingly demands responses to technological progress as well as compliance with safety requirements. Worldwide, there has been the globalization of
information and markets, as well as implementation of standardization within Europe thanks to EU integration. In order to meet all of these requirements, appropriate technical standards are essential, and thus the development of international standards for railway businesses has become increasingly important. Our organization has established in response to the need to deal with IEC and ISO standards.
RISC (RTRI) took on the role of the national secretariat of IEC’s Technical Committee 9: Electrical equipment and systems for railways (IEC/TC 9). As for ISO, a new technical committee (ISO/TC 269) was established in April 2012, and its three Sub Committees (SCs) were established in 2016. In order to deal with this movement RISC has also acted as the national secretariat for ISO/TC 17/SC 15, as well as ISO/TC 269 and its SCs. We
have thus been able to quickly grasp the overall trends relating to IEC and ISO standards for the rail industry and to work diligently to keep up with the growing need for standards worldwide.
As the Director of RISC, I am committed to being a leader in international standardization, and to push forward the activities of the railway field in Japan.
I hope that our activities will contribute to the sustainable future development of the railway worldwide.
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