Japan Material (JM) started a regular operation from March 2024 to make a long-distance transport of specialty gas (SPG) cylinders by cargo railroad for which JM has been working for verification with Japan Transcity and Japan Freight Railway since June 2023.
With regular operation, 15% of previous SPG transportation between Mie and Iwate Prefectures (approx. 970km) have shifted to railway transport.
Coinciding with the 2024 labor problem in transport industry, JM aims to establish a constant and sustainable logistics system utilizing railroad and is confident with the effect to reduce more than 55% of CO2 emission for transportation by adopting the railroad this time.

The distance to transport SPG cylinders by cargo railroad is between Yokkaichi Station in Mie Prefecture and Mizusawa Station in Iwate Prefecture of JR line. With two 12ft container units as one lot, each unit is capable to load the maximum 64 cylinders of 47 liter. The condition of cylinders loaded in the container is deemed to be the same as that of the load carrying tray of truck.

For verification JM examined the temperature control and vibration during transportation in the railroad container. The transportation is made by truck between JM’s centralized warehouse located in Yokkaichi City of Mie Prefecture and Yokkaichi Station and also between Mizusawa Station and the warehouse in Kitakami City of Iwate Prefecture.

On March 17, JM held a departure ceremony at JR Cargo Station of Yokkaichi City.
President Hisao Tanaka of JM who attended as organizer spoke, “The semiconductor industry which the Japanese government strongly supports is going to face the 2024 Logistics Issue. We are sure that the transportation by railroad will be significant and be of great help to solve the issue.” Regarding the future, he commented, “We wish to utilize the railroad cargo transportation to transport SPG gas for the western Japan areas like Hiroshima and Kumamoto in the near future.