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NIIGATA — The East Japan Railway Company (JR East) plans to launch a trial of facial recognition gates at Niigata and Nagaoka stations along the Joetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line starting November 6. This innovative system enables travelers to go through the ticket gates without having to retrieve a ticket or an IC card from their pocket or bag.

As per JR East’s Niigata division, facial recognition gates featuring cameras are set to be deployed at shinkansen ticket entrances in both stations. These cameras will take pictures and gather facial information to confirm passenger identities. The trial is intended to check if the technology operates effectively in active station environments.

At Niigata Station, the facial recognition system will be integrated with current gates, whereas new facial recognition gates will be set up at Nagaoka Station. The trial will employ distinct devices at each station to assess their individual effectiveness.

The trial will last approximately five months, starting on November 6 and ending on March 31, 2026. It is aimed at travelers who have shinkansen commuter passes between Niigata and Nagaoka stations and are at least junior high school age. Around 500 people are anticipated to take part. Participants need to sign up beforehand, which includes having their photographs taken. Applications will be available from October 6 to 17.

Hiroko Shirayama, head of the Niigata branch, stated, “There has been a problem where inserting tickets into gates is troublesome for passengers carrying large luggage or strollers. We hope this trial will offer a view of what’s to come.”

(Japanese original by Shuichi Kanzaki, Niigata Bureau)