Tokyo, April 10, 2025 – Japan has once again created history in the world of technology. West Japan Railway Company surprised everyone by building the world’s first 3D-printed railway station in Arida city. The most surprising thing? It took only 6 hours to prepare the basic structure of this station. This achievement is not only a marvel of engineering, but also shows how quickly and efficiently the rail infrastructure can be changed in the future.

New look of Hatsushima station

According to the New York Times report, this project was started to modernize the Hatsushima railway station built in 1948. This old station was made of wood and has been fully automated since 2018. About 530 passengers travel from here every day, and one to three trains pass every hour. But now 3D-printing technology has given new life to this station.

West Japan Railway collaborated with a company called Serendix for this work. The company first prepared prefabricated concrete parts for 7 days at a factory on Kyushu Island. Then these parts were brought to the station premises by trucks in the afternoon of March 24. Work began after the last train left at 11:57 pm, and the new station was ready before the first train arrived at 5:45 am.

“Made the impossible possible in 6 hours”

Kunihiro Handa, co-founder of Serendix, expressed pride in this achievement and said, “Normally the construction or renovation of a railway station takes months, and that too at night, when trains do not run. But 3D-printing changed that.” He said that according to railway rules, there should be no disruption in the convenience of passengers. This technology not only saved time, but also reduced cost and labor. The new structure was erected a few feet away from the old station by joining modular parts with the help of a crane.

Locals’ enthusiasm
When trucks carrying equipment arrived at the station on the evening of March 24, locals gathered to witness the historic moment. “It was incredible to see this. A new station was built overnight. It shows Japan’s strength,” said resident Hiroshi Tanaka. When the first train arrived in the morning, passengers also praised the change. “This station now looks more modern and robust than before,” said Mayuko Yamada, a passenger.

Technological wonders
3D-printing used prefabricated parts here, which were printed in a factory and assembled on site. This method is completely different from traditional construction, where every part is made on site. “This technology is the future. It is faster, cheaper and better for the environment, as there is less waste,” says technical expert Professor Kenji Suzuki. Japan has proved with this project how much potential there is for innovation in railway infrastructure.
Work still to be done
Although the basic structure of the station is ready, new ticket machines, IC card readers and other facilities are yet to be installed. Officials say that all this work will be completed by July, and then the station will be fully open to passengers. Till then the old system will continue here, but the use of the new structure has started.
Japan’s new identity
This project is another proof of Japan’s technological superiority. While the world is still limiting 3D-printing to houses and small structures, Japan has tried it in a big project like a railway station. Railway expert Akira Nakamura says, “This is just the beginning. In the coming years, such technology can change the rail network around the world.”
Final view
This 3D-printed railway station built in 6 hours is not just a building, but a glimpse of the future. Japan has once again shown that if technology and willpower are combined, then nothing is impossible. Can this technology give new speed to railways in countries like India? This question is now in everyone’s mind. But for now, this story of Hatsushima station is enough to surprise the world.