California and Japan Strengthen Collaboration on Rail Decarbonization

AMTV, Los Angeles, CA, May 22 – California and Japan are strengthening their partnership with a renewed focus on rail decarbonization and cross-border innovation to advance state climate goals. This week, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) hosted policy leaders from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. This event united government officials, technical experts and business leaders to collaborate on rail decarbonization policy, high-speed rail and urban rail development.

“Under Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership, CalSTA continues to energize international partnerships to help the State reach its transportation climate goals,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Rail decarbonization is an important step towards a cleaner California for all, and Japan is a vital partner in California’s pursuit of a cleaner transportation future.”

With a highly electrified rail network and status as a global leader in sustainable rail, Japan is a steadfast partner to California for cross-border technology collaboration, rail decarbonization best practices and policy sharing. California continues to benefit from this partnership through cross-border collaboration on rail decarbonization technologies, best practices and policy sharing.

“MLIT promotes decarbonization in the railway sector based on the three key pillars: decarbonization of railway operation itself; decarbonization utilizing railway assets; decarbonization through rail use. Since MLIT and CalSTA share a common goal of achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century, it is beneficial for both sides to learn from each other’s knowledge and efforts about rail decarbonization,” said MLIT Director of the International Policy and Project Division, Railway Bureau, KOBAYASHI Nobuyuki.

In addition to leaders from MLIT, attendees included President OKUDA Tetsuya of the Japanese International Transportation and Tourism Institute, policy and project leaders from the California Department of Transportation, California High-Speed Rail Authority and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

The delegation was also hosted by Metrolink and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority to experience a Zero-Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU) passenger train, the first federally compliant self-powered hydrogen train in North America. The new ZEMU is a clean transit alternative that emits only water vapor due to its use of hybrid hydrogen and battery-powered technology propulsion.

This ZEMU site visit was especially instrumental as the Japanese government has goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and one primary initiative is the development of hydrogen and battery-powered train technologies.

“The Transportation Authority is exceptionally proud of our efforts to develop and deliver the nation’s first fully compliant zero-emission multiple unit,” SBCTA President and Metrolink Board Director Ray Marquez said. “Partnering with transportation leaders like CalSTA and Metrolink goes a long way to our ability to be at the forefront of a cleaner tomorrow.”

This week’s convening is a continuation of rail development collaboration between MLIT and CalSTA following a 2022 Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to strengthen efforts to combat climate change and economic and trade relations.

In 2023, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Secretary Toks Omishakin traveled to Japan for World Smart Energy Week where they were joined by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers and a delegation of more than 100 California business executives. The meeting resulted in a partnership between California and Japan, committing to working together to make the global supply chain cleaner by establishing green shipping corridors.

Later in 2024, Secretary Omishakin; MLIT’s Director of General Railway Bureau, MURATA Shigeki; and MLIT’s Director General for International Affairs, TANAKA Yuki, signed a Letter of Intent to further the 2022 Japan-California Climate Change and Trade MOC with a stronger focus on rail decarbonization.

This continued collaboration is also a step towards California’s goals of having a fully connected, zero-emission rail network by 2050 as outlined in the 2024 State Rail Plan.