

Additional criticism revolved around the gauge the Shinkansen would utilize, as the standard gauge of 4 ft 8 1/2 inches rendered the Shinkansen incompatible with other railways throughout the country.Īs the bullet train increased in popularity, subsequent lines were opened throughout Japan, with speeds eventually increasing to 200 mph. However, during its construction, many believed the construction of the rail line was misguided, due to the emerging automobile and airline industries. The Shinkansen improved the viability of rail service in Japan, as previously, slow narrow gauge trains were given the tumultuous task of scaling mountains, and other rough terrain, rendering rail transportation slow and inefficient, especially in the sense of the everyday commuter. Interestingly, the curators of Shinkansen didn’t see speed as a main focus, rather their goal was to construct a rail line that would move larger numbers of people, as efficiently as possible.

While building the Shinkansen line, thousands of bridges and tunnels were constructed, blasting through some of the world’s toughest terrain. The speed and efficiency of the bullet train is credited to its use of dedicated tracks, and lack of sharp turns. In the 2016-2017 period the Tokaido Line carried 159 million passengers, mainly due to its frequent, efficient, and fast service. The original Tokaido Line has carried 5.6 billion passengers since its commencement, and operates thirteen, sixteen car trains in either direction during rush hour, each train operating just three minutes between trains.
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The second train in the photo is the 0 Series Shinkansen, the first series to be introduced in 1964. An impressive lineup of various models of the Japanese Shinkansen system. These first trains earned the title “bullet train”, due to their bullet like noses, and fast top speed of 130 mph. Upon the service’s commencement on October 1, 1964, the venerable 0 Series Shinkansen’s made their debut on the Hikari bullet train service. Shinkansen, translated to English as, “new trunk line”, was designed to promote economic growth, connecting Tokyo to the country’s distant cities. The genesis of modern high speed rail began in Japan in 1964, when the very first Shinkansen line, the Tokaido Line, opened between the capital of Tokyo, and Osaka. Japanese Shinkansen- The First High Speed Rail Line However, any rail network that exceeds 186 mph (300 KMH), is considered high speed. Maximum speeds of the world’s various high speed rail networks vary significantly.
