JR East to Roll Out AI Person Detection on Sagami Line

Tokyo, Japan — JR East will begin phased deployment of an artificial intelligence-based passenger detection system on its Sagami Line, the company’s Yokohama branch confirmed.

The system is designed to support safety protocols for driver-only train operations.

It analyzes real-time footage from cameras positioned on the exterior sides of train cars.

When the software detects a person approaching a train during departure, it sends an automated audio notification—"Passenger approach detected"—to the driver’s cabin.

Data from two cameras at the front and rear of each train extends detection coverage to individuals farther from the sensors.

Deployment follows field tests on the Sagami Line, which began in 2023 and assessed system performance across varying time frames and weather conditions.

JR East intends to equip all Sagami Line train sets with the technology by the end of the fiscal year 2026.

The rollout aligns with a broader transition to driver-only operations across the JR East network, a shift the company attributes to projected labor shortages.

The Sagami Line, connecting Chigasaki and Hashimoto, adopted driver-only operation in March 2022. 

The Tsurumi Line followed in March 2024, and the Nambu Line in March 2025. 

The Yokohama and Negishi Lines transitioned on March 14, 2026. The Keihin-Tohoku Line is scheduled to transition in 2027.

Under driver-only protocols, drivers assume duties previously handled by conductors, including passenger monitoring via the Onboard Platform Monitor System and door management.

JR East officials stated the AI system is intended to complement, not replace, human judgment, noting that it enables rapid detection of abnormalities.

The company is considering expanding the AI detection system to other driver-only routes, focusing on stations with high platform congestion.