Delivered on September 7, 2026
Timetables are a "treasure trove"! The future of railway data x location information envisioned by Kotsu Shimbunsha
Speakers:
Tomoichiro Kominami, Kotsu Shimbunsha Co., Ltd., Timetable Information Division, Information Section 2 / Takuma Ashizawa, Timetable Information Division, Sales Section
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
Our guests this time are two representatives from Kotsu Shimbunsha, the company that produces JR timetables, Kotsu Shimbun, and magazines such as "Tabi no Techo" and "Sanpo no Tatsujin." We will be discussing the railway information business, which has evolved from paper timetables to data provision over the past 30 years. Train timetable data is being used not only for route searches, but also for analyzing traffic demand and train density, and for research purposes. Furthermore, new possibilities are emerging by digitizing the newspaper and magazine content, tourist information, and station maps that have been accumulated over many years, and combining them with location information and AI. The vast amount of data held by Kotsu Shimbunsha, which has consistently upheld the importance of "accurate information," is truly a treasure trove. We will discuss the current state and future of railway data.
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The History of Kotsu Shimbunsha and its Unique Role in Supporting the JR Official Timetable
Kotsu Shimbunsha Co., Ltd. is a publishing company that handles a variety of media, including the daily newspaper "Kotsu Shimbun," which specializes in the Japanese transportation industry, the "JR Timetable," and travel magazines such as "Tabi no Techo" and "Sanpo no Tatsujin." The company's roots can be traced back to the end of the Meiji era (late 19th century), and after the current system was established in the 1950s, it began producing timetables in 1963. Subsequently, with the establishment of JR following the privatization of Japanese National Railways, it was commissioned to create the official JR timetable, and continues to be the only entity that provides official operation information throughout Japan, supporting the core of transportation information.
30 Years of Transition from Paper Timetables to Digital Data Provision
In the past, it was common to purchase paper timetables to plan trips, but with the spread of mobile devices, the demand for digital route searches has surged. Kotsu Shimbunsha has been developing digital data distribution services for nearly 30 years, beginning to provide data to route search engines and map providers during the early days of feature phones and pagers. The distributed data is detailed, covering all train departure and arrival times, routes, and transfer information. This initiative forms the foundation of modern transportation guidance infrastructure, such as smartphone route searches.
An overwhelming commitment to "accurate information" where even a 1-minute error is unacceptable
Train schedules are crucial infrastructure information where a one-minute discrepancy can be fatal in exams and business. Kotsu Shimbunsha directly collects and gathers monthly operational data from the six JR companies and over 100 private railway and bus companies nationwide. Editors lay out the complex collected timetable data in a format easily understandable to the general public, and manually proofread every single train time. This sense of mission to avoid even a one-minute error and meticulous checking system are strengths that other companies cannot imitate, and accurate data from Kotsu Shimbunsha is always behind modern route searches.
A System for Updating "Fresh and Reliable Data" Linked to the April Publication
Railway timetables fluctuate daily, not only due to the large-scale revisions in March each year, but also due to the operation of extra trains and disaster response. The company fully updates its distributed data monthly, coinciding with the publication of its monthly magazine, "JR Timetable." This update includes a wealth of information on extra trains to meet tourism and event demand. Furthermore, changes to the timetable due to vehicle inspections and disasters are reflected as needed, effectively updating the data 4-5 times per month. This ensures a system that consistently delivers fresh and reliable information to users.
Potential as Transportation Big Data and its Application to Academic Research
The highly accurate timetable data accumulated over many years is creating new value not only for route searches, but also as transportation big data. In recent years, there has been a surge in inquiries from universities and specialized research institutions regarding analytical data on operation density and demand forecasting. The data is being used in simulations of transportable passenger capacity based on urban operation frequency and in research on operation optimization algorithms under wiring constraints. Thus, timetable data from the past to the present functions as an important social infrastructure indicator in academic fields.
The Future of Tourism DX Through Newspaper and Magazine Content Assets and AI
The company has accumulated a wealth of content, including not only timetable data but also news from its "Transportation Newspaper" and text from travel magazines. Going forward, they are exploring ways to integrate this with location information (POI) to provide information on what kind of sightseeing and experiences are available at destinations. Especially with the rise of generative AI, the compatibility of AI-enabled content combining reliable "fact data" such as timetable data with tourism information is increasing. The accumulated accurate information is being redefined as a "treasure trove" in the AI era.
Expanding Station Map Data and Creating Seamless Navigation UX with Location Information
Currently, as a new initiative, Transportation Newspaper is working on digitizing and expanding the integration of "station maps" included in paper timetables. This data includes micro-spatial information such as the locations of stairs and escalators, and the locations of toilets and lockers. While currently limited to certain users, they aim to strengthen collaboration with map services and connect it with location information technology to create a comfortable and easy-to-navigate user experience both indoors and outdoors.
Summary
The timetable data maintained by Kotsu Shimbunsha Co., Ltd. is a reliable infrastructure that supports Japan's public transportation system from behind the scenes. Under the responsibility of producing the official JR timetable, their system of manually proofreading timetables to the minute, based on interviews with over 100 operators nationwide, is a unique strength that other companies cannot replicate.
This accurate data extends beyond route search and is also used in academic big data analysis, such as simulations. In the future, by integrating station maps and long-standing tourism content assets with location information technology and generative AI, they will expand into new areas such as tourism DX and indoor/outdoor navigation. This evolving data asset, while protecting accurate information, will continue to be indispensable in the smart society of the future.