Keywords: railway dynamics, steering bogie, asymmetric bogie, curving performance, single-axle steering, lateral force.

This paper presents an overview of link-type forced steering bogies, focusing on their development and practical implementation in Japan. These bogies enhance curving performance by achieving radial alignment of wheelsets while maintaining a relatively simple and reliable mechanical structure, in contrast to actively controlled systems. Despite their effectiveness, conventional steering bogies have seen limited practical application due to structural complexity and difficulties in integrating traction and braking components. To address these challenges, an asymmetric bogie with single-axle steering has been developed and successfully implemented in Japanese metro systems. This paper reviews the historical development of steering bogies and examines their dynamic characteristics based on field measurements and numerical simulations. The results demonstrate significant reductions in lateral force and derailment coefficient, thereby confirming the practical effectiveness of the proposed concept. Quantitative analysis indicates a substantial reduction in the angle of attack and derailment coefficient under sharp curve conditions. The widespread implementation of this concept in commercial metro operations demonstrates its maturity and practical significance in Japanese railway engineering practice.

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