Earthquakes, rainfall, wind-speed, and other weather observation information managed from stations installed along train lines is gathered online to enable more efficient monitoring of weather conditions.This information is used by Weathernews to provide content that helps railway companies manage their transport services.This content is based on quantitative and precise short-term weather analysis and forecasts.In addition, information can be shared using customers’ in-house networks in order to enable a precise understanding of changes in weather conditions.This allows customers to accelerate preparation for weather-related incidents, post personnel more efficiently, and provide better services for travelers.

■ Support for Disaster Response

To help customers respond to disasters, such as earthquakes, typhoons, rainstorms, and snowstorms, we provide content such as up-to-the-minute weather information for use by disaster-response headquarters.

■ Support for Transport Control

We provide a variety of content in such areas as transport restrictions (speed limits/service shutdowns) to ensure safe transport and improved timing for lifting such restrictions.

■ Support for Line Maintenance

We provide content designed to ensure the safety of rails and other line equipment.Information regarding factors that could potentially negatively impact line maintenance??such as landslides, submerged rails, earthquakes, snowstorms, fallen trees on lines, windblown obstacles, heat- or earthquake-warped rails??is provided as operational policy content.

Railway companies are continually grappling with the issues of safety and punctuality, and Weathernews is working with them to provide ever more useful services.Based on the results of our business analysis accumulated over years of providing service, we are striving for new content and services to create new value along with our customers.Our efforts are helping railway companies and railway users in Japan and throughout the world to “make the most of their time.”