On September 18, 2024, Tokyo Metro announced that its group company, Metro Vehicles, had applied pressure exceeding standards during the assembly of train wheels and had falsified the data to meet the standards. Details are as follows:
Overview of the Irregularities:
- Irregularity Details: During the wheel assembly process, pressure exceeding the standard values was applied, and the data was falsified to appear within standard limits.
- Affected Vehicles: Irregularities were confirmed in 161 vehicles, excluding the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. Some vehicles experienced pressure exceeding the standard by up to 34%.
Current Status:
- Investigation Results: Tokyo Metro has completed safety checks on 159 of the affected vehicles.
- Usage Suspension: The remaining 2 vehicles operating on the Yurakucho Line and Fukutoshin Line, which experienced significantly higher pressure, have been taken out of service.
Response from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:
- Emergency Inspection: Following the data falsification issues at JR Freight, the Ministry issued emergency inspection directives to all railway operators nationwide. Tokyo Metro's irregularities were discovered during these inspections.
Future Actions:
- Tokyo Metro plans to implement measures to prevent recurrence of this issue and will continue with inspections and maintenance of the related vehicles. There is a need for overall trust restoration in the railway industry.
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