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Forum members based in Japan may be interested in checking out the NHK program "100 kame" (one hundred cameras)- the topic of next weeks program (July 22, 7:57pm~) is a visit to Tokyo Metro's central traffic control center, the first time ever this facility has been featured in the media. Positioning multiple cameras at various vantage points, it aims to capture the day to day operations of this facility. including when the inevitable schedule disruption occurs. Also featured is Kotake Mukaihara station, featuring 34 switchpoints and 118 train arrivals/departures per 2 hour morning rush. Should be interesting, and may reveal some hitherto unknown (to the public) aspects of railway operations. https://www.nhk.jp/p/100cam/ts/QP8MPNM1GL/blog/bl/pG0anBl8J1/bp/pJLqwLxODP/

First time for a TV station to visit the normally off-limits mainframe that is the Tokaido Shinkansen COMTRAC sustem, which controls the routing of trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen. The system will be upgraded this October to the latest generation, which will handle schedule disruptions more quickly, especially at terminal stations (namely Tokyo Station). (COMTRAC segment is up to about 5:30 in the clip): JR Tokai news release (pdf in Japanese) includes diagrams seen in the TV news report: https://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000036204.pdf