Restoration work and lessons learned from the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake disaster (JR West)

The means of transportation in the area between Osaka and Kobe were seriously damaged by the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. To grasp the extent of damage, the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) immediately made a groundlevel investigation on foot and an aerial investigation by helicopter. Damaged railway facilities were extensive and the definite restoration methods to be used for the rahmen viaduct were debated on to give top priority for safety in the restoration works, and the goal was to rebuild the railway structure so that it would be able to withstand a possible earthquake. Horizontal members of the viaducts were reused. Countermeasures to be taken for future protection against disasters are also discussed.