TOKYO –
East Japan Railway (JR East) announced on November 10th that it will introduce touch-free ticket gates at 40 stations, including every station on Tokyo’s Yamanote Line, from spring 2028, allowing passengers using Mobile Suica to pass through without taking their smartphones out of their pockets or bags.
The new system, known as “walk-through ticket gates,” uses radio signals emitted by smartphones equipped with Mobile Suica to automatically open the gates as passengers approach. Travelers will be able to walk through at their usual pace without stopping to tap their phones against a reader, marking a significant change from the conventional ticket gate system.
JR East said the technology is designed to make travel more convenient, particularly for passengers carrying large luggage, wheelchair users, and parents pushing strollers, who may find it difficult to reach for a smartphone or transportation card while moving through stations.
The railway operator plans to begin trial operations at 14 stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area in April 2027, ahead of the full-scale rollout at 40 stations in spring 2028. The initial large-scale deployment will cover all stations on the Yamanote Line, one of Tokyo’s busiest commuter rail networks.
Unlike conventional automatic ticket gates, which require passengers to touch an IC card or smartphone against a dedicated reader, the new technology identifies Mobile Suica users through wireless communication, allowing the gates to open automatically without physical contact.
JR East aims to extend the system to every station equipped with automatic ticket gates across its network by the end of fiscal 2031, which falls in March 2032.
The company said the introduction of walk-through ticket gates is intended to create a more comfortable and seamless travel experience, especially for passengers whose hands are occupied by luggage, strollers, or mobility equipment.
The initiative represents another step in JR East’s efforts to modernize railway services through digital technology, building on the widespread adoption of Suica and its smartphone-based Mobile Suica service.
Source: TBS
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