Following decades of developing the high-speed bullet train for passenger transport between Tokyo and Osaka, Japan is set to construct another rapid transit line, this time for cargo, dubbed the “Conveyor Belt Road.”

This route is a 515-kilometer automated corridor for cargo transportation, operating autonomously to move goods without human intervention. Cargo is loaded into large containers transported by self-driving vehicles to their destination, with loading and unloading processes automated using robotic cranes and giant robotic arms. However, this doesn’t mean humans will be entirely absent; they will still oversee the loading and unloading operations.

The demand for delivery services in Japan is on the rise, coinciding with a decline in the number of drivers. This makes working on such projects essential to prevent the country from facing a delivery crisis in the near future.

Japan finds such a corridor an effective way to meet the growing demand for delivery services. It saves on labor and costs, reduces carbon emissions, making it an ideal solution from various perspectives.

Pilot operations are expected to commence in 2027 or early 2028. If successful, a network of automated transportation lines will be built to connect numerous cities.