In a groundbreaking achievement, West Japan Railway
Company (JR West) has constructed the world’s first 3D-printed train
station in Arida City, Wakayama Prefecture. The structure, assembled
in under six hours, marks a significant step forward in the modernization of
rail infrastructure.
Built Overnight, Operational by Morning
The new Hatsushima Station replaces an ageing wooden
station built in 1948. While the 3D printing and concrete reinforcement
of its components took seven days in a factory in Kumamoto Prefecture,
the actual on-site assembly on March 24 was completed in less than one
night.
- The
final train departed at 11:57 PM
- The
new station was fully set up before the first train arrived at 5:45 AM
- The
structure covers over 100 square feet
Dozens of residents gathered to witness the rapid
installation as cranes positioned each prefabricated mortar segment next to the
old building.
Finishing Work Underway
While the station’s physical structure is complete, final
installations such as ticket machines and IC card readers are
still pending. The station is expected to open to the public in July.
Time-Saving and Cost-Efficient
The project, completed with the help of construction firm
Serendix, proved to be both time- and cost-effective:
- Traditional
construction would have taken over two months
- Costs
were nearly halved
- Significantly
fewer workers were needed on-site
This method could be a game-changer, especially in rural
areas facing workforce shortages due to Japan’s ageing population.
“The importance of this project lies in how dramatically it
reduces the number of workers needed,”
— Ryo Kawamoto, President, JR West Innovations
A Model for the Future
With automation, sustainability, and efficiency at its core,
this project demonstrates how 3D-printed infrastructure can address
long-standing challenges in the transportation sector. Japan's success could
inspire similar developments across the world, particularly in regions looking
to modernize with limited resources.