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Modular 3D printing meets rail: Japan’s new station to be built overnight.
3D printing is expanding its role in construction, with applications extending beyond housing and commercial buildings to transport infrastructure. In Japan, West Japan Railway Company (JR West), JR West Innovations, and Serendix are set to deliver the country’s first 3D-printed railway station, to be built in just six hours.
Located at Hatsushima Station in Arida City, Wakayama Prefecture, the station will be a single-storey reinforced concrete structure, measuring 2.6 metres high, 6.3 metres wide, and 2.1 metres deep, covering approximately 10 square metres. Its exterior will incorporate imagery of local produce—mandarin oranges and cutlassfish—reflecting the region’s identity, while the open-sided design will provide seating and shelter.
Prefabrication for Faster On-Site Construction
Unlike conventional 3D-printed buildings, where structures are printed directly at the construction site, the station’s components will be fabricated offsite using an extrusion-based 3D printing process. A cement-like mixture will be layered to form the structural elements, which will then be transported and assembled using a crane.
The on-site assembly—from placing the components to completing the structure—will take just six hours, scheduled between the last train departure and the first train arrival. JR West expects this method to streamline construction, reduce site disruption, and improve efficiency compared to traditional steel or reinforced concrete builds.
Parallel Innovations in 3D-Printed Prefabrication
Japan’s 3D-printed station aligns with a broader shift towards offsite 3D printing in construction. In the US, DAUB is developing a process that prefabricates large masonry units offsite, which are then assembled onsite like Lego bricks. This approach, which overcomes height restrictions that limit onsite 3D printing to three storeys, could expand 3D printing’s reach beyond residential projects.
Similarly, Citizen Robotics, a Detroit-based firm, prints construction elements such as permeable pavers, courtyard benches, and acoustically optimised walls—all fabricated offsite before being integrated into projects.
Future Potential for 3D-Printed Infrastructure
With reinforced concrete construction offering durability and design flexibility, JR West will assess cost efficiency and long-term maintenance before considering further applications of 3D-printed station construction across its network.
Scheduled for March 25, the project will be a real-world test of 3D-printed infrastructure in Japan. If successful, it could drive further discussions around automation, prefabrication, and advanced materials in transport infrastructure.
The train station is being printed by Japanese company Serendix Co. Ltd. based in Nishinomiya City.
