How Japan built the world’s first 3D-affected train station in just 6 hours

In six hours between the departure of the last train of the night and the arrival of one before morning, workers in rural Japan A completely new train station was built. This will change a large wooden structure that has served travelers in this remote community for more than 75 years.
The components of the new station were 3D-print and gathered on the site last month, the railway operators say there is a world before. This may look like a shelter than a station, but it may take more than two months to build in a traditional way and spend twice, according to the West Japan Railway Company.
As the age of the population of Japan and its workforce shrink, the maintenance of the infrastructure of the railway, including the old station buildings, is a growing issue for railway operators. Rural stations with a decreasing number of users have given a special challenge.
The new station, Hatsushima, is in a cool seaside city which is part of it AridaA 25,000-population in the city Vakayama provinceWhich is the range of two popular tourist destinations, Osaka and Nara provinces. The station is served with a single line that runs in one to three hours, serving around 530 riders a day.
Yui Nishino19, uses it every day for its movement for the university. She said that she was surprised when she first heard that the world’s first 3D-printed station building was going to be built here.
“Given this, the work is moving at a speed that would be impossible with normal construction,” he said. “I hope they can build more buildings with 3D-printing technology.”
Construction firm Srendix, which works with the West Japan Railway on the project, said it took seven days to print the parts and strengthen them with concrete.
The printing was performed in a factory in Kumamoto province on the south -western island of Kyushu. The factory was released on the morning of 24 March, which was taken to about 500 miles north -east to Hathsima station on the road.
“Generally, construction occurs in several months, while trains are not running every night,” said Kunihiro Handa, co-founder of Serndix. Construction work near commercial lines is subject to strict restrictions and is usually performed overnight so that the timetable cannot be interrupted.
As trucks carrying 3D-affected parts began to pull on Tuesday night at late March, several dozen residents gathered to look at the first initiative, which was running deeply in a place.
Then, after the last train moved away at 11.57 pm, the workers got busy in the construction of the new station.
In less than six hours, anterior parts made of a special mortar were assembled. They were given on separate trucks, and a large crane was used to lift each one down, where workers were working together a few feet away from the old station.
The new station, which measures more than just 100 sq ft, was completed before the first train arrived at 5.45 am. It is a minimal, white building, which features the design features a mandarin orange and a scaburized, Arida.
It still required internal work, as well as equipment such as ticket machines and transport card readers. The West Japan Railway said it expected to open a new building for use in July.
Railway officials say they hope that the station will show how new technology and service can be maintained in remote places with less workers.
“We believe that the importance of this project lies in the fact that the total number of essential people will be greatly reduced,” said Ryo Kavamoto, president of JR West Innovation, said, an enterprise capital unit of the railway operator.
The new station that would change the place of wood was completed in 1948. Since 2018, it has become automatic like many small stations in Japan.
The 56 -year -old Toshifumi Norimatsu, who manages the post office a few hundred feet away, had a bitwatch feelings about the new building.
“I am a little sad about taking the old station down,” he said. “But I would be happy if this station can become a pioneer and benefit other stations.”