The Railway Technical Research Institute has adopted four items as the goal of the research and development until fiscal 2004. It aims at the realization of a "High reliability railway," "Low cost railway," "Attractive railway" and "Railway compatible with the environment." This paper introduces the research and development activities of track technology corresponding to these four items. They include prevention of flange-climb derailment and rail defect, track inspection technology and track maintenance planning system, speed-up and improvement of riding quality, reducing CO₂ discharge and recycle of track materials.