[JR Central] Basic Agreement Signed for Joint Study on AI Edge Data Centers Utilizing the Tokaido Shinkansen Network

Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN), and Actia Corporation (Actia) have signed a basic agreement to jointly study the establishment of AI edge data centers (※1) (hereinafter referred to as AI Edge DC) within JR Central's business areas, aiming to build a distributed AI infrastructure.

In recent years, the application of AI has been rapidly expanding across various fields. To process big data in real-time, the importance of AI Edge DCs, which offer lower latency compared to general cloud services, is increasing.

This initiative will combine JR Central Group's underutilized land and network along the Tokaido Shinkansen, PFN's domestically developed AI semiconductor "MN-Core series" (※2) and related AI technologies, and Actia's expertise in service planning, development, and operation. The goal is to explore the construction of a domestically produced, distributed AI infrastructure.

Through this, we aim to contribute to enhancing the value of areas along the railway line by leveraging AI for applications such as autonomous driving and smart city initiatives around stations, and smart factories utilizing Physical AI (※3) in industrial zones (※4).

1. Date of Agreement

March 30, 2026

2. Details of Agreement

・Study on the feasibility and operational models for establishing AI Edge DCs along JR Central's business areas.

・Study on the design and construction of AI Edge DCs (container type/module type ※5).

・Study on business models for social implementation and organization of related systems and regulations.

3. Comments from Each Company

Akihiko Nakamura, Vice President, Central Japan Railway Company AI technology is becoming a crucial foundation supporting the advancement of social infrastructure and industries. To safely and efficiently leverage its power, the development of AI infrastructure with low latency and excellent security performance is essential. The JR Central Group will utilize its infrastructure operation capabilities and regional collaboration cultivated through railway operations and area development, and work with partner companies to study the construction of safe and reliable distributed AI infrastructure, aiming to contribute to enhancing the value of areas along the railway line.

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