TOKYO - Japan’s first cargo-only shinkansen began operations on March 23rd, aiming to significantly expand transport capacity and help address a growing shortage of truck drivers.
The train, which appeared around noon at Morioka Station in Iwate Prefecture, featured a modified Tohoku Shinkansen “Yamabiko” formation, with specially designed cars attached behind it that differed in appearance from standard passenger carriages. Inside, there were no seats—only stacks of cardboard boxes loaded for transport.
The service is part of an expanded rollout of the “Hakobyun” rail freight initiative, with newly developed cars dedicated exclusively to cargo. Designed to accommodate roll-in cage carts, the system allows for the efficient transport of large volumes of goods in a single trip.
On its first day of operation, cargo was loaded from the morning at a rail yard using unmanned transport vehicles to streamline the process. Inside the cars, packages were arranged in an orderly manner and secured with hooks to prevent movement during transit.
Each carriage can hold 24 carts, with each cart capable of carrying six boxes weighing around 20 kilograms each, enabling a seven-car train to transport approximately 1,000 boxes per journey.
Shimaka Yuichi, president of Marutomo Shimaka, a seafood company using the service, said: "Today we are transporting about 30 cases of scallops from Sanriku. The biggest advantage is that they can be on store shelves at restaurants and supermarkets by the evening of the same day."
The service is intended for goods that require both speed and stability, including fresh food, blood for transfusions that is sensitive to temperature and vibration, and precision equipment.
The train completed the journey from Morioka to Tokyo in about four hours, roughly half the time typically required by truck, which takes around eight hours.
With tighter limits on driver overtime under the so-called 2024 logistics regulations raising concerns about labor shortages, expectations are growing that such services could help ease the burden on the transport sector.
Logistics journalist Ryōhei Sakata said: "From a consumer perspective, if you want to eat fresher products like sashimi or fish, this kind of high-speed rail transport offers clear advantages. With fewer goods able to be carried by trucks due to the 2024 regulations, this could serve as an important complement."
Meanwhile, new delivery models that do not involve direct handoffs are also emerging. From April, unmanned pickup points are set to be installed at commercial facilities and stations in Tokyo, Osaka and other areas.
Under this system, delivery companies simply drop off parcels at designated pickup locations, allowing users to collect them at their convenience while avoiding the stress of in-person delivery or the risk of unattended packages being lost.
Tomomi Ishido, a director at Every WiLL, said: "Access is managed באמצעות QR codes, so records remain of who entered and when. Surveillance cameras are also in place to monitor for any suspicious activity."
As Japan grapples with labor shortages, logistics services are expected to continue evolving through innovation and new delivery models.
Source: FNN
