Yamanote Line Trains with Security Cameras to Run from Sat.

May 17, 2018

Tokyo- East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, unveiled to the media on Thursday train cars equipped with security cameras for its Yamanote Line, which runs in the center of Tokyo.

It will be the first time for the loop line to have trains with security cameras. They will start running from Saturday.

Each car will be equipped with four cameras, according to the company. Each Yamanote Line train comprises 11 cars.

JR East plans to put security cameras in all cars for the line by the spring of 2020, before the Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in the year.

The move is aimed at preventing disturbing behavior by passengers and crimes including terror attacks.

Regarding concerns that the filming might infringe on passengers' privacy, Hideyuki Terui, an official at JR East's Transport and Rolling Stock Department, said the company will make sure that the recorded videos are "strictly managed."

JR East will hand over the videos to police if so requested. Video footage will be overwritten about once a week.

An estimated 800,000 people use the Yamanote Line a day.

JR East has already installed security cameras in its Shinkansen bullet trains and trains on the Saikyo Line, which connects Tokyo and neighboring Saitama Prefecture. Jiji Press