Japan

 

SHINKANSEN

new w tru runk nk lin inee) is a net etw work of high-speed The  Shinkansen (   新 幹 線 , ne railway  li railway line ness in Ja Japa pann op oper erat ated ed by fo four ur Japa Japann Rai Railwa lways ys Gro Group up companies.  companies. tar t arti ting ng wi with th the T!ka T!kaid! id! hi hinkan nkansen sen  ("# ("#". ".$$ km km,, %& %&'. '.%% mi mi)) in # #$, $, th thee network has e*panded to currently consist of &,#".+ km (#,&".% mi) of lines with ma*imum speeds of &$'%&' kmh (#"'&'' mph), &%." km (#+.& mi) of /ini-shinkansen /ini-shinkansen lines  lines with a ma*imum speed of #%' kmh (' mph), and #'.% km (.$ mi) of spur lines with hinkansen ser0ices. The network presently links most ma1or cities on the islands of 2onshu 2onshu and  and 3yushu 3yushu,, with construction of a link to the northern island of 2okkaido 2okkaido underway.  underway.   The ma*imum operating speed is %&' kmh (&'' mph) (on a %+." km section of the T!hoku hinkansen).Test hinkansen).Test runs ha0e reached $$% kmh (&+" mph) for  con0 co n0en enti tion onal al ra rail il in # # ,, an andd up to a worl worldd rec record ord  '% kmh (%+" mph) for magle0 magle0 trains  trains in 4pril &'#".  &'#".  Shinkansen literally means new trunk line, referring to the high-speed rail line netw ne twor ork. k. The na name me Superexpress  (   超 特 急  chō-tokkyū?), in init itia iall llyy us used ed for 2ikari 2ikari   trains, was retired in #+& but is still used in 5nglish-language announcements and signage.  signage. 

The T!kaid! hinkansen is the world6s busiest high-speed rail line. 7arrying #"## mi #" mill llio ionn pa pass ssen enge gers rs pe perr ye year ar (/ (/ar arch ch &' &'' '), ), it ha hass tra rans nspo port rted ed mo more re  passengers (o0er " billion, entire network o0er #' billion) than any other highspeed line in the world. 8etween Tokyo Tokyo and  and 9saka 9saka,, the two largest metropolises in Japan, up to thirteen trains per hour with si*teen cars each (#,%&%-seat capacity) run in each direction with a minimum headway of three minutes  between trains. Though largely largely a long-distance transport system, the hinkansen also ser0es commuters who tra0el to work in metropolitan areas from outlying cities. Japan6s hinkansen network had the highest annual passenger ridership (a ma*imum of %"% million in &''+) of anyhigh-speed any high-speed rail network rail network until &'##, when 7hina6s high-speed rail network surpassed it at %+' million passengers annually.   annually.

 

2istory

hinkansen track is standard gauge, gauge, 0ery le0el, with welded rails to reduce 0ibration.Japan was the first country to build dedicated railway lines for highspeed tra0el. 8ecause of the mountainous terrain, the e*isting network consisted of #,'+ mm (% mm (% ft  in) narrow-gauge lines, which generally took indirect routes and could not be adapted to higher speeds. 7onse:uently, Japan had a greater  need ne ed fo forr ne new w hi high gh-s -spe peed ed li line ness th than an co count untri ries es wh where ere th thee e* e*is isti ting ng standard gauge or gauge  or broad  broad gauge rail gauge rail system had more upgrade potential.  potential.  4mong the key people credited with the construction of the first hinkansen are 2id 2ideo eo hi hima ma,, th thee 7h 7hie ieff 5n 5ngi gine neer er,, an andd hi hin1i n1i og! og!,, the first ;resident of Japanes Japanesee <atio <ational nal Rail Railways ways (J<R)  (J<R) who managed to persuade politicians to  back the plan. 9ther significant people responsible for its technical de0elopment de0elopment were Tadanao /iki, Tadashi /atsudaira, and 2a1ime 3awanabe based at the Rail Ra ilwa wayy Tech chnol nolog ogyy Re Rese searc archh =n =nst stit itut utee (R (RT TR= R=), ), pa part rt of J< J<R. R. Th They ey we were re responsible respons ible for much of the techn technical ical de0elopment de0elopment of the first line, theT!kaid! theT!kaid! hinkansen.. 4ll hinkansen 4ll three had worked on aircraft design during >orld >ar ==. ==.?@  Early proposals 

The popular 5nglish name bullet train is a literal translation of the Japanese term dangan ressha ( 弾丸列車 ?), a nickname gi0en to the pro1ect while it was initially being discussed in the #%'s. The name stuck because of the original ' eries hinkansen6 hinkansen6s resemblance to a bullet and its high speed.  speed.  The Shinkansen name was first formally used in #$' for a proposed standard gauge passenger and freight line between Tokyo and himonoseki himonoseki that  that would ha0e used steam and electric locomoti0es with a top speed of &'' kmh (#&' mph). 90er the ne*t three years, the /inistry of Railways drew up more ambitious plans to e*tend the line to 8ei1ing (through a tunnel to 3orea) 3orea) and e0en ingapore ingapore,, and build connections to the Trans-iberian Railway and Railway and other  trunk lines in 4sia. These plans were abandoned in #$% as Japan6s position in >orld >o rld >ar >ar == worsened. 2owe0er, some construction did commence on the lineA se0eral tunnels on@ the present-day hinkansen date to the war-era pro1ect. Construction ?edit edit@

 

  /ount Bu1i with Bu1i with hinkansen and cherry trees in the foreground  foreground  Bollowing the end of >orld >ar ==, high-speed rail was forgotten for se0eral year ye arss wh whil ilee tr traf affi ficc of pa pass ssen enge gers rs an andd fr frei eigh ghtt st stea eadi dily ly in incr crea ease sedd on th thee con0entional T!kaid! /ain Cine  Cine  along with the reconstruction of Japanese industry and economy. 8y the mid-#"'s the T!kaid! Cine was operating at full capacity, and the /inistry of Railways decided to re0isit the hinkansen pro1ect. =n #"+, 9dakyu 5lectri ricc Railway in intr trod oduc uced ed it itss %''' series 5 DRomancecarD train, DRomancecarD  train, setting a world speed record of #$" kmh (' mph) for a narrow gauge train. This train ga0e designers the confidence that they could safely build an e0en faster standard train. Thus series, was built on the success of thegauge Romancecar. Romancecar.    the first hinkansen, the ' whom? m?@ =n the #"'s, it was widely belie0ed ?by who   that railways would soon be outdated and replaced by air tra0el and highways as in 4merica and many countr cou ntries ies in 5ur 5urope. ope. 2ow 2owe0e e0er, r, hi hin1i n1i og og!!, ;resident of Japanes Japanesee <atio <ational nal Railways,, in Railways insi sist sted ed st stro rong nglly on th thee po poss ssib ibil ilit ityy of hig high-s h-speed peed rai raill, and the hinkansen pro1ect was implemented.  implemented. 

Go0ernment appro0al came in Eecember #", and construction of the first segment of the T!kai T!kaid! d! hinka hinkansen nsen between  between Tokyo and9saka and9saka started  started in 4pril #". The cost of constructing the hinkansen was at first estimated at nearly &'' billion yen, which was raised in the form of a go0ernment loan, railway  bonds and a low-interest loan of F' million from the >orld 8ank . =nitial cost estimates, howe0er, had been deliberately understated and the actual figures were nearly double at about $'' billion yen. 4s the budget shortfall became clear in #%, ogo resigned to take responsibility.?@  4 test facility for rolling stock, now part of the line, opened in 9dawara 9dawara in  in #&.  #&.  edit@@  Initial success?edit The T!kaid! hinkansen began ser0ice on # 9ctober #$, in time for the first Tokyo 9lympics. 9lympics.?#'@ The con0entional Cimited 5*press ser0ice took si* hours and $' minutes from Tokyo to 9saka, but the hinkansen made the trip in 1ust four hours, shortened to three hours and ten minutes by #". =t enabled day trips between Tokyo and 9saka, the two largest metropolises in Japan, changed

 

the style of business and life of the Japanese people significantly, and increased new ne w tr traf affi ficc de dema mand nd.. Th Thee se ser0i r0ice ce wa wass an im imme medi diat atee su succe ccess ss,, rea reach chin ingg th thee #'' million passenger mark in less than three years on #% July #+, and one  billion passengers in #+. i*teen-car trains were introduced for 5*po 6+' in 6+' in 9saka. >ith an a0erage of &%,''' passengers per hour in each direction in #&, the T!kaid! hinkansen is the world6s busiest high-speed rail line.?##@  The first hinkansen trains, the ' series, series, ran at speeds of up to &#' kmh (#%' mph), later increased to &&' kmh (#%+ mph). The last of these trains, with their classic bullet-nosed appearance, were retired on %' <o0ember &''. 4 dri0ing car from one of the ' series trains was donated by JR >est to the <ational the  <ational Railway /useum in /useum in Hork , 5ngland in &''#.  &''#.  Network expansion

 

hinagawa tation in tation in Tokyo

The T!k !kai aid! d! Ci Cine ne6s 6s ra rapi pidd suc ucce cess ss pro rom mpt pted ed an e* e*tten ensi sion on we west stwa ward rd to 2iroshima 2iroshima and  and Bukuoka Bukuoka (the  (the any! hinka hinkansen nsen), ), which was completed in #+". ;rime /inister 3akuei Ta Tanaka naka was  was an ardent supporter of the hinkansen, and his go0ernment proposed an e*tensi0e network paralleling most e*is e* isttin ingg tr trun unkk li line nes. s. Two ne new w lin ines es,, the T!h T!hoku oku hi hinka nkanse nsenn and J!etsu hinkansen,, were built following this plan. /any other planned lines were hinkansen delayed or scrapped entirely as J<R  slid   slid into debt throughout the late #+'s, largely because of the high cost of building the hinkansen network. 8y the early #'s, the company was practically insol0ent, leading to its pri0atiIation in #+. Ee0elopment of the hinkansen by the pri0atised regional JR companies has continued, with new train models de0eloped, each generally with its own distincti0e appearance (such as the "'' series introduced series introduced by JR >est). >est). ince &'#$, shinkansen trains run regularly at speeds up to %&' kmh (&'' mph),  placing them alongside the Brench TG TG and  and German =75 =75 as  as the fastest trains in the world.

 

ince #+', de0elopment has also been underway for the 7hK! hinkansen, hinkansen, a  planned magle0 magle0 line  line from Tokyo to 9saka. 9n &# 4pril &'#", a se0en-car C' series magle0 series  magle0 trainset set a world speed record of record of '% kmh (%+" mph).?$@ Technology enab able le hi high gh-s -spe peed ed op oper erat atio ion, n, h hin inka kans nsen en us uses es a ra rang ngee of ad ad0a 0anc nced ed To en technology compared with con0entional and it=tsachie0ed not influenced only high speed but also a high standard of safety andrail, comfort. success has other railways in the world and the importance and ad0antage of high-speed rail has rail  has conse:uently been ree0aluated. Routing

h hin inka kans nsen en ro rout utes es are com compl plet etel elyy se separ parat atee fr from om con con0e 0ent ntio iona nall rai raill li line ness (e*cept /ini-shinkansen /ini-shinkansen  which goes through to con0entional lines). 7onse:uently, hinkansen is not affected by slower local or freight trains and has the capacity to operate many high-speed trains punctually. The lines ha0e  been built without road crossings at grade. grade. Tracks are strictly off-limits with  penalties against trespassing strictly regulated by law. =t uses tunnels and 0iaducts to 0iaducts  to goradius through and o0er obstacles than them,T!kaid! with a minimum cur0e of $,''' meters (&,"''rather meters onaround the oldest hinkansen).?#%@ Track 

The hi hinka nkansen nsen use usess #,$ #,$%" %" mm ($ ft  # L & in) st stan anda dard rd ga gaug ugee in co cont ntra rast st to thee #, th #,' '++ mm (% ft  in in)) na narro rrow w ga gaug ugee of ol olde derr li line nes. s. 7on 7ontin tinuou uouss wel welded ded rail and rail  and wing wingnose nose crossi crossing ng points are employed, eliminating gaps at turnouts and crossings. Cong rails are used, 1oined by e*pansion 1oints to minimiIe gauge fluctuation due to thermal elongation and shrinkage. 4 combination of ballasted of ballasted and  and slab track  are  are used, with slab track e*clusi0ely employed on concrete bed sections such as 0iaducts and tunnels. lab track is significantly more cost-effecti0e in tunnel sections, since the lower track height reduces the cross-sectional area of the tunnel, thereby reducing construction costs by up to %'M.?#$@ 2owe0er, the smaller diameter of hinkansen tunnels compared to some other high-speed lines has resulted in the issue of tunnel  boom becoming  boom  becoming a concern for residents li0ing close to tunnel portals. Signal system?edit edit@@ The hinkansen employs an 4T7 (4 (4ut utom omat atic ic Trai ainn 7o 7ont ntro rol) l) sy syst stem em,, eliminating the need for trackside signals. =t uses a comprehensi0e system of 4utom 4utomatic atic Tr Train ain ;rotec ;rotection tion.. ?@7entra 7entraliIed liIed traff traffic ic contro controll manages all train operations, and all tasks relating to train mo0ement, track, station and schedule are networked and Electricity?edit edit@ @ computeriIed.

 

hinkansen uses a &",'''  47 47 o0erhead  o0erhead power supply (&','''  47 on /inishinkansen lines), shinkansen  lines), to o0ercome the limitations of the #,"''  direct current used current used on the e*isting electrified narrow-gauge system. ;ower is distributed along the a*les of the train to reduce the hea0y a*le loads under single power cars.?@ Trains?edit edit@@ hinkansen trains are electric multiple unit style, unit style, offering high acceleration and deceleration, and reduced damage to the track because of lighter 0ehicles. The coaches are air-sealed to ensure stable air pressure pre ssure when entering tunnels at high speed.

4 passenger6s 0iew of hinkansen coaches Punctuality?edit edit@@ The hinkansen is 0ery reliable thanks to se0eral factors, including its near-total sepa se para rati tion on fr from om sl slow ower er tra rafffic ic.. =n &' &'#& #&,, JR 7en entr tral al re repo port rted ed tha hatt th thee hinkansen6s a0erage delay from schedule per train was % seconds. This includes delays due to uncontrollable causes, such as natural disasters. ?#"@ The record, in #+, was # seconds. Traction?edit edit@@ The hinkansen has used the ele electr ctric ic mul multip tiple le uni unitt con config figura uratio tionn from the outset, with the ' eries hinkansen ha0ing hinkansen ha0ing all a*les powered. 9ther railway manufacturers ha0e traditionally been reluctant, or unable config to useuration distributed tracti tra ction on conf configu igurat ration ions s (e. (e.g. g. Talgo Talgo   uti utilis lised ed the thelocomoti0e locomoti0e  configurati on with the 45 7la 7lass ss #'& #'&   and plans to continue with it for the Ta Talgo lgo 4R=C R=C on  on account of the fact that it is not possible to utilise powered bogies as part of the Talgo ;endular system). =n Japan significant engineering desirability e*ists for  the electric multiple unit configuration. 4 greater proportion of motored a*les results in higher acceleration, meaning that the hinkansen does not lose as much mu ch ti tim me if st stop oppi ping ng fr fre: e:ue uent ntly ly.. h hin inka kans nsen en li line ness ha ha0e 0e mo more re st stop opss in  proportion to their lengths than high-speed lines elsewhere in the world. Saety recor!?edit edit@@ 90er the hinkansen6s "'-year history, carrying nearly #' billion passengers, ther th e ha ha0e 0e be been en no pa passe sseng nger er fat fatal alit itie iess du duee to de dera rail ilme ment ntss or co coll llis isio ions ns,, ?#@ere  despite fre:uent earth:uakes and typhoons. =n1uries and a single fatality ha0e

 

 been caused by doors closing on passengers or their belongingsA attendants are employed at platforms to pre0ent such accidents. There ha0e, howe0er, been suicides by passengers 1umping both from and in front of mo0ing trains.?#+@ There ha0e been two derailments of hinkansen trains in passenger ser0ice. The first one occurred during the 7hKetsu 5arth:uake on 5arth:uake on &% 9ctober &''$. 5ight of  ten cars of theToki <o. %&" train on the J!e J!etsu tsu hi hinka nkanse nsenn derailed near near <agaoka tation in  in <agaoka,  <agaoka, <iigata. <iigata . There were no casual casualties ties among the ?#@ #"$  <agaoka passengers.tation 4nother derailment happened on & /arch &'#% on the 4kita hinkansen when hinkansen when the Komachi <o. &" train derailed in bliIIard conditions in Eaisen, 4kita. 4kita. <o ?#@  passengers were in1ured. =n the e0ent of an earth:uake, an earth:uake detection system can bring the train to a stop 0ery :uickly. 4 new anti-derailment de0ice was installed after detailed analysis of the J!etsu derailment. Economics?edit edit@@ The hinkansen has had a significant effect on Japan6s business, economy, ?##@

society, en0ironmentto and culture. network   The time alone from switching from a con0entional a high-speed ha0esa0ings been estimated at $'' million ?##@ hours, an economic impact of N"'' billion per year.  hinkansen connecti0ity has re1u0enated rural towns such as3akegawa as3akegawa that  that would otherwise be too distant from ma1or cities.?##@ 2owe0er, the 0ast construction costs of the hinkansen network, particularly the later, less profitable lines often dri0en more by political considerations than actual demand, imposed 0ast debt ser0icing costs on J<R that, by #+#, made ?&'@??irrelev irrelevant ant citation@ J<R unprofitable e0en before depreciation.?&'@  J<R6s hinkansenfueled debt e0entually ballooned to N& trillion(&+" billion FE&'' billion 5uro) and was an instrumental factor in the company6s e0entual pri0atiIation ?&'@ ?##@ and breakup.  The pri0atiIed JRs e0entually paid a total of only N.& trillion to ac:uire J<R6s hinkansen network. En"ironmental impact?edit edit@@ Tra0eling the Tokyo-9saka line by hinkansen produces only around #M of  the carbon dio*ide of dio*ide of the e:ui0alent 1ourney by car, a sa0ing of #",''' tons of  79& per year.?##@

7hallenges encountered edit@@ Noise pollution?edit  <oise pollution concerns pollution concerns mean that increasing speed is becoming more difficult. =n Japan, the pollution population density is high ha0e been protests against noise of hinkansen, and and nowthere hinkansen noisese0ere is regulated to

 

less ss th than an +' d8 d8  in resi residen dentia tiall are areas. as.?&#@ 2en 2ence, ce, im impro0 pro0eme ement nt and red reduct uction ion le of pantograph of  pantograph,, weight sa0ing of cars, and construction of noise barriers and barriers and other measures ha0e been implemented. implemented. 7urrent research is prima primarily rily aimed at reducing operational noise, particularly the tunnel boom phenomenon boom phenomenon caused when trains transit tunnels at high speed. Eart#$uake?edit edit@@ 8ecause of the risk of earth:uakes, the Frgent 5arth:uake Eetection and 4larm ystem (Fr5E4) (earth:uake (earth:uake warning system) system) was introduced in #&. =t enables automatic braking of bullet trains in the case of large earth:uakes. Hea"y snow?edit edit@@ The T! T!kai kaid! d! h hin inka kanse nsenn often e*periences hea0y snow in the area around /aibara tation  tation  in winter. Trains ha0e to reduce speed, which can disrupt the timetable. prinkler systems were later installed, but delays of #' to &' minutes still occur during snowy weather. 4dditionally, treefalls related to e*cess snow ha0e caused ser0ice interruptions. 4long the route of the J!etsu hinkansen,, winter snow can be 0ery hea0y, with snow depths of two to three hinkansen metres, so the line is e:uipped with stronger sprinklers and slab track, to mitigate the effects of deep snow. Buture??edit Buture edit@@

7onstruction of 2okuriku hinkansen in hinkansen in Bukui Spee! increases?edit edit@@

5" series trains, series trains, capable of up to %&' kmh (&'' mph) (initially limited to %''' km %' kmh h), ), we were re in intr trod oduc uced ed on th thee T!h T!hoku oku hi hinka nkanse nsenn in /ar arch ch &' &'###. 9peration at the ma*imum speed of %&' kmh  between Ftsunomiya Ftsunomiya and  and /orioka /orioka on  on this route commenced on # /arch &'#%, and reduced the 1ourney time to around % hours for trains from Tokyo to hin4omori (a distance of +$ km ($# mi)). 5*tensi0e trials using the Bastech %' test %' test trains ha0e shown that operation at %' kmh (&&$ mph) is not currently feasible because of problems of noise  pollution (particularly  pollution  (particularly tunnel boom), boom), o0erhead wire wear, and braking distances.

 

9n %' 9ctober &'#&, JR 5ast announced that it is pursuing research and de0elopment to increase speeds to %' kmh on the Tohoku hinkansen by &'&'.?&+@ Hokuriku extension?edit edit@@ The 2okuri 2okuriku ku hink hinkansen ansen  is be bein ingg e* e*te tend nded ed fr from om 3a 3ana naIa Iawa wa to Tsur urug ugaa (proposed for completion by &'&&) at an estimated cost of %.'$ trillion yen (in June &'#&).?&@ There are further plans to e*tend the line from Tsuruga to 9saka, and there are currently % routes under consideration. To#oku To #oku extension%Hokkai!o S#inkansen ?edit edit@@ The T!hoku hinkansen is hinkansen is being e*tended by JR 5ast from hin-4omori to the new ne w h hin in-2 -2ak akoda odate te st stat atio ionn no north rth of th thee 2okkaido 2okkaido city  city of 2akodate 2akodate through  through the eikan Tunnel, Tunnel, which is being con0erted to dual gauge ga uge as part of the pro1ect, with scheduled completion in /arch &'#. Bor at least the initial two years after opening, hinkansen trains will be limited to #$' kmh when tra0ersing the dual gauge eikan tunnel due to the risk of  narrow gauge freight trains tra0eling in the opposite direction being derailed by the shockwa0e that mo0es ahead of hinkansen trains at higher speedsthe in tunnels. There ofareaircurrently appro*imately "' freight trains tra0ersing eikan tunnel each day, and so limiting the tra0el of such trains through the tunnel to times outside of hinkansen ser0ices is not an option. =n &'#, it is proposed to allow one hinkansen ser0ice each day to tra0el at &' kmh (the ma*imum speed proposed for the tunnel) by ensuring no freight trains are scheduled to tra0el through the tunnel at that time. To achie0e the full benefit of hinkansen trains tra0elling through the tunnel at &'' km & kmh h ot othe herr al alte tern rnat ati0 i0es es ar aree be bein ingg co cons nsid ider ered ed,, su such ch as a sy syst stem em to automatically slow hinkansen trains down to &'' kmh when passing narrow gauge trains, andor loading freight trains onto special standard gauge trains (akin to a co0ered piggyback flatcar train) built to withstand the shockwa0es of  oncoming hinkansen trains tra0eling at full speed, known in Japan as Train on Train.. This would enable a tra0el time from Train fro m Tokyo Tokyo to hin-2akodate of % hrs $" mins. JR 2o 2okk kkai aido do is e* e*te tend ndin ingg th thee 2okkai 2okkaido do hinka hinkansen nsen  from hi hin-2 n-2akod akodate ate to apporo apporo to  to open by &'%', with tunnelling work on the ",&"m /urayama tunn tu nnel el,, si situ tuat ated ed ab abou outt # km no nort rthh of h hin in-2 -2ak akod odat atee st stat atio ion, n, pr prop opos osed ed to commence by /arch &'#", and be completed by /arch &'&#. Nagasaki S#inkansen?edit edit@@ JR 3yushu is currently constructing an e*tension (to be known as the >est 3yushu hinkansen) line of the 3yushu hinkansen to hinkansen to <agasaki  <agasaki,, partly to full hinkansen standard gauge construction standards (Takeo 9nsen - <agasaki)

 

with the e*isting narrow gauge section between hin-Tosu and Takeo 9nsen utilised in con1unction with Gauge 7hange Trai Trains ns (G7T).  (G7T). This proposal would in0ol0e a G7T train tra0elling from 2akata to hin-Tosu (&.% km) on the e*isting 3yushu hinkansen line, then passing through a specific gauge changing (standard to narrow) section of track linking to the e*isting <agasaki e*isting  <agasaki /ain Cine Cine,, along which it would tra0el to 2iIen Hamaguchi (%+. then the Cine Cine to Takeo 9nsen (#%.+ km), where gaug ga ugeekm), chan ch angi ging ngonto sect se ctio ionnasebo (nar (n arro row w to to st stan anda dard rd) ) wo woul uld d le lead ad on onto to th theanother  e fi fina nall hinkansen line to <agasaki (.+ km). The proposal shortens the distance between 2akata and <agasaki by .&M (. km), and while only $M of the route will be built to full hinkansen standards, it will eliminate the slowest sections of the e*isting narrow gauge route, pro0iding an estimated time sa0ing of &."M (%& minutes) on the current timetable. The proposed top speed of the G7T on the narrow gauge section is unknown at this time, if it is to be higher than #%' kmh then the time sa0ing will be greater. 4s part of this proposal the current #&. km section of single track between 2iIen Hamaguchi and Takeo 9nsen is to be duplicated, with work on that component scheduled to commence in 4pril &'#. >ith the recent completion of e*ca0ation of the #%"#m 5nogushi tunnel, being the si*th tunnel completed in this section, appro*imately &"M of the $'.+ km of  tunnel e*ca0ation work on the Takeo 9nsen - <agasaki section has been finished. The entire pro1ect is scheduled for completion by /arch &'&%. &agle" 'C#uo S#inkansen(?edit edit@@ /agle0 trains ha0e been undertaking test runs on the Hamanashi test track since #+, running at speeds of o0er "'' kmh (%#' mph). 4s a result of this e*tensi0e testing, magle0 technology is almost ready for public usage. ?&@ 4n e*tension of thise*tended test trackhigh-speed from #.$ running km to $&. kmtowas completed June &'#%, enabling trials commence in in 4ugust &'#%. This section will be incorporated into the 7hK! hinkansen which hinkansen which will e0en e0 entu tual ally ly li link nk Toky kyoo to 9s 9sak aka. a. 7o 7ons nstr truct uctio ionn of th thee hinagawa hinagawato to <agoya section is planned to begin in &'#$, with M of the & km route to be in tunnels. The 759 of JR 7entral announced plans to ha0e the magle0 magle0  7hK! ?&@ hinkansen operating hinkansen  operating from Tokyo to <agoya to <agoya by  by &'&+.  Bollowing the shortest route (through the Japanese 4lps), JR 7entral estimates 7entral estimates that it will take $' minutes to run from hinagawa to <agoya. 4 subse:uent e*tension to 9saka is  planned to be completed by &'$". The planned tra0el time from hinagawa to hin h in-9 -9sa saka ka is # ho hour ur + mi minu nute tes. s. 7u 7urre rrent ntly ly th thee To Tokaido kaido hinka hinkansen nsen  has a minimum connection time of & hours # minutes.?%'@

 

>hile the go0ernment has granted appro0al ?%#@ for the shortest route between Tokyo To kyo and <agoya, some prefectural go0ernments, go0ern ments, particularly <agano, lobbied to ha0e the line routed farther north to ser0e the city of 7hino 7hino and  and either =na =na or  or 3iso-Bukushima 3iso-Bukushima.. 2owe0er, that would increase both the tra0el time (from Tokyo to <agoya) and the cost of construction.?%&@ JR 7entral has confirmed it will construct the line through 3anagawa ;refecture, and terminate at hinagawa The route fortation. the <agoya to 9saka section is also contested. 7urrently it is  planned to go 0ia <ara 0ia  <ara,, about $' km south of 3yoto 3yoto.. 3yoto is lobbying to ha0e thee ro th rout utee mo mo0e 0edd no nort rthh an andd be la larg rgel elyy al alig igne nedd wi with th th thee e* e*is isti ting ng Tokaido ?%%@ hinkansen,, which ser0ices 3yoto and not <ara. hinkansen &ini)S#inkansen?edit edit@@ /ini-shinkansen ( ミ ニ 新 幹 線 ?) is the name gi0en to the routes where former  narrow gauge lines ha0e been con0erted to standard gauge to allow hinkansen trains to tra0el to cities without the e*pense of constructing full hinkansen standard lines. Two mini-shinkans nsen en routes ha ha00e been cons nsttru rucctedO the Hamagata hinkansen and hinkansen  and 4kit 4kitaa hinka hinkansen nsen.. hinkansen ser0ices to these lines tra0erse the To Tohoku hoku hinkansen hinkansen line  line from Tokyo before branching off to traditional main lines. 9n both the Hamagata Hamagatahin1o hin1o and 4kita lines, the narrow narr ow gauge lines were regauged, resulting in the local ser0ices being operated by standard gauge 0ersions of 0ersions  of #'+mm gauge suburbaninterurban rolling stock. 9n the 4kita line  between 9magari and 4kita, one of the two narrow gauge lines was regauged, and a section of the remaining narrow gauge line is dual gauge, pro0iding the opportunity for hinkansen ser0ices to pass each other without stopping. The ma*imum speed on these lines is #%' kmh, howe0er the o0erall tra0el time tofrom Tokyo is impro0ed due to the elimination of the need for passengers to change trains atBukushima atBukushima and  and /orioka /orioka respecti0ely.  respecti0ely. 4s the Coading gauge (siIe gauge (siIe of the train that can tra0el on a line) was not altered when the rail gauge was widened, only hinkansen trains specially built for  these routes can tra0el on the lines. 4t present they are the 5% and 5 series trains. >hilst no further /ini-shinkansen routes ha0e been proposed to date, it remains an option for pro0iding hinkansen ser0ices to cities on the narrow gauge network. *auge C#ange Train?edit edit@@  Main article !auge "hange Train

This is the name for the concept of using a single train that is specially designed to tr tra0 a0el el on bo both th #, #,' '++ mm (% ft  in in)) na narr rrow ow ga gaug ugee ra rail ilwa wayy li line ness an andd

 

the #,$%" mm ($ ft  # L & in) standard gauge used by hinkansen train ser0ices in Japan. The trucksbogies of the Gauge 7hange Train (G7T) allow the wheels to  be unlocked from the a*les, narrowed or widened as necessary, and then relocked. This allows a G7T to tra0erse both standard gauge and narrow gauge tracks without the e*pense of regauging lines. Three test trains ha0e been constructed, with the second set ha0ing completed re rel lia iabi bili litty &'#%. tri rial alss The on third thee Hset th osa sanis n undertaking Cine Ci ne  east ogauge f /atsuyama /atsuyama (in  (in trials hikoku) hikoku ) in eptember changing at hinHatsushiro tation (on tation (on 3yushu 3yushu), ), commencing in &'#$ for a three-year period. The train is being trialled between 3umamoto 3umamoto,, tra0elling on the narrow gauge line to hin-H hin-Haatsushi tsushiro, ro, where a gauge changer has been installed, installed, so the G7T can then be trialled on the hinkansen line to 3agoshima 3agoshima.. =t is anticipated the train will tra0el appro*imately '',''' km o0er the three-year trial. 4 new Dfull standardD hinkansen line is under construction from Takeo 9nsen to <agasaki to  <agasaki,, with the hin Tosu - Takeo 9nsen section of the 3yushu hinkansen   branch planned to remain narrow gauge and G7Ts proposed to hinkansen  pro0ide the hinkansen ser0ice ser 0ice at least between 2akata 2akata and  and <agasaki when the line is opened in /arch &'&%. Cist of lines? lines?edit edit@@ The main hinkansen lines areO +engt# +ine

Start

,perato r

En! km

Annual ,pene passengers? ! %$@

mi

T-kai!S#inkans en

Tokyo

hin9saka

"#". %&'. JR  $ % 7entral

#$

SanyS#inkans en

hin9saka

2akata

""%. %$$. JR >est + #

#+&  $,%"",''' #+"

T-#oku S#inkans en

Tokyo

hin4omori

+$. $#. JR 5ast  $

#&  +,#++,''' &'#'

#$%,'#",'' '

 

.-etsu S#inkans en

Pmiya  <iigata

Hokurik  u S#inkans en

Takasa 3anaIaw %$". &#$. JR  5ast and 5ast and $  ki a JR >est

Kyus#u S#inkans en

2akata

&. #+. " "

3agoshim &". #". JR  a-7hK! 3yushu  

#&

%$,%#,'''

#+&'#"

,$&','''

&''$  #&,#$%,''' &'##

Cine and Gala-HuIawa Cine /ap of hinkansen lines e*cept 2akata-/inami Cine and =n practice, the Tokaido, anyo and 3yushu lines form a contiguous southbound line, as train ser0ices run between the Tokaido and anyo lines and between the anyo and 3yushu lines. The Tokaido hinkansen is not physically connected to the Tohoku hinkansen at Tokyo tation. Therefore, there is no through ser0ice  between those two lines. Two further lines, known as Mini-shinkansen, ha0e also been constructed by regauging and upgrading e*isting sections of lineO •

Hamagata hinkansen ( hinkansen (Bukushima Bukushima    hin1! hin1!))

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4kita hinkansen ( hinkansen (/orioka /orioka    4kita 4kita))

 

There are two standard-gauge lines not technically classified as hinkansen lines but with hinkansen ser0icesO •

2akata /inami Cine ( Cine (2akata 2akata    2akata-/inami 2akata-/inami))

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Gala-HuIawa Cine  Cine  technically a branch of the J!etsu Cine  Cine  (5chigo-

HuIawa  HuIawa  ?edit Gala-HuIawa) Gala-HuIawa ) /uture lines edit@ @ /any hinkansen lines were proposed during the boom of the early #+'s but ha0e yet to be constructed. These are called Seibi Shinkansen ( 整 備 新 幹 Sh inkansen. 9ne of these lines, the <arita the <arita hinkansen to hinkansen  to <arita  <arita 線 ?) or planned Shinkansen 4irport,, was officially cancelled, but a few remain under de0elopment. 4irport •

2okuriku 2okuri ku hi hinka nkanse nsenn e* e*te tens nsio ionn fro from m 3anaIawa 3anaIawa to  to Tsuruga Tsuruga  is under  construction and is scheduled to open in &'&". 8etween 2akusan Eepot near  3anaIawa and Tsuruga, the Bukui Bukui hinkansen  hinkansen station was constructed in con1un con 1uncti ction on wit withh the rebu rebuild ilding ing of the ad1 ad1oin oining ing con con0en 0entio tional nal (na (narrow rrow gauge) line inneanticipation construction of the totion 9saka. e*te e* tens nsio ion n ofstation thee li th line to 9saka 9saka  isofpr prop opos osed ed,, wi with th thre th reeline e op opti ons s fo forr The thee th e*tension under consideration, being 0ia /aibara, 0ia 3yoto or to the west of 8iwako 8iwako to  to hin-Psaka hin-Psaka..

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7onstruction of the 3yushu hinkansen branch from hinTosu to Tosu  to <agasaki  <agasaki,, known as the  #agasaki $oute ( 長 崎 ル ー ト ?) or #ishi Kyushu $oute (西九州ルート?), started in &''. The branch will be partially  built to full hinkansen standards (Ta (Takeo keo 9nsen - <agasaki) with the e*isting narrow-gauge line from hin-Tosu - Takeo 9nsen to remain as narrow-gauge track with Gauge 7hange Trains to Trains to pro0ide the hinkansen ser0ice. 2okkai 2okk aido do h hin inka kans nsen en from  from hin-4omori hin-4omori to  to hin-2akodate hin-2akodate  is under  construction and will open by /arch &'#. 4 further e*tension of the line from hin-2akodate to apporo apporo is  is under construction and proposed to open in &'%'.

7huo hi 7huo hinka nkanse nsenn (T (Tookyo kyo< <ag agoy oya a9s 9saka aka)) is a pl plan anne nedd magle0 magle0 line.  line. The 7entra 7entrall Japan Railway 7ompa 7ompany ny has  has announced a &'&+ target date for  the line from Tokyo to <agoya, with the e*tension to 9saka proposed to open in &'$". 7onstruction of the pro1ect is due to commence in &'#$. The following lines were also proposed in the #+% plan, but ha0e subse:uently •

 been shel0ed indefinitely. indefinitely.

 

2okkaido hinkansen northward e*tensionO apporo4sahikawa

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2okkaido outh Coop hinkansen ( 北 海 道 南 回 り 新 幹 線  %okkaidō  %okkaidō  Minami-mawari Shinkansen?)O 9shamanbe/uroranapporo

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Fetsu hinkansen (羽越新幹線?)O Toyama<iigata4omori

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Pu hinkansen (奥羽新幹線?)O BukushimaHamagata4kita •

Bukush Buku shim ima ah hin in1! 1! an andd Pm Pmag agar ari i4k 4kit itaa e* e*is istt as th thee Hamagata hinkansen and hinkansen  and 4k 4kit itaa h hin inka kans nsen en,, respecti0ely, but as D/inihin h inka kans nsen enDD up upggra rade dess of e* e*iist stiing tra rack ck,, the heyy do no nott mee eett th thee re:uirements of the 8asic ;lan.

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2okuriku-7hKky! hinkansen (北!"#新幹線?)O <agoyaTsuruga

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anin hinkansen ($%新幹線?)O 9sakaTo 9sakaTottori/atsuehimonoseki ttori/atsuehimonoseki

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"hūgok gokuu &da &dann Trans-7hK Tr ans-7hKgoku goku hink hinkansen ansen (   " & ' ( 新 幹 線  "hū ? Shinkansen )O 9kayama/atsue

hikoku hinkansen ( ) & 新 幹 線 ?)O 9sakaTokushimaTakamatsu  /atsuyamaPita Trans-hi Tr ans-hikoku koku hinka hinkansen nsen (   ) & ' ( 新 幹 線  Sh Shik ikok okuu &d &dan an Shinkansen?)O 9kayama3!chi/atsuyama 5ast 3yushu hinkansen ( *九州新幹線  %igashi-Kyushu  %igashi-Kyushu Shinkansen Shinkans en?)O BukuokaPita/iyaIaki3agoshima

Trans-3yushu hinkansen (九州'(新幹線 Kyushu  Kyushu &dan Shinkansen?)O Pita3umamoto =n addition, the 8asic ;lan specified that the J!etsu hinkansen should start from hin1uku hin1uku,, not Toky okyoo tat tation ion,, which would ha0e re:uired building an additional %' km of track between hin1uku and Pmiya. >hile no construction work was e0er started, land along the proposed track, including an underground section leading to hin1uku tation, remains reser0ed. =f capacity on the current TokyoPmiya section pro0es insufficient once the 2okkaido and 2okuriku hinkansen are operational, construction of the hin1ukuPmiya link may be reconsidered. •

The The <arita  <aritainhinkansen pro1ect hinkansen to connect to  <arita =nternational 4irport 4irport, initiated the #+'s  pro1ect but halted in #%Tokyo after to <arita landowner protests, has been,

 

officially cancelled and remo0ed from the 8asic ;lan go0erning hinkansen construction. ;arts of its planned right-of-way were utiliIed by the <arita the <arita ky 4ccess 4cc ess Cin Cinee wh whic ichh op open ened ed in &' &'#' #'.. 4lt ltho houg ughh th thee k kyy 4cc cces esss Ci Cine ne us uses es standard-gauge track, it was not built to hinkansen specifications and there are no plans to con0ert it into a full hinkansen line. =n Eecember &'', then transport minister ei1i /aehara proposed /aehara proposed a bullet train link to 2aneda 4i link 4irport rport,, us usin ingg an e* e*is isti ting ng sp spur ur th that at co conn nnec ects ts th thee T!kaid! hinkansen to hinkansen  to a train depot. JR 7entral called 7entral called the plan DunrealisticD due to tight train schedules on the e*isting line, but reports said that /aehara wished to continue discussions on the idea. ?%"@  The current minister has not indicated whether this proposal remains supported. Spee!

+engt#

+ine km%# mp# km

mi

Expecte! Construction start o   0egan re"enue ser"ices

2okkaido hinkansen  ;has hinkansen ;hasee # &' (hin-4omori hin-2akodate)

#'

#$. &."

/ay &''"

4pril &'#

3yushu hinkansen (>est hinkansen  (>est 3yushu Route)

&'

#'

.+

$#.$

&''

&'&&

2okuriku hinkansen  ;has hinkansen ;hasee % &' (3anaIawa Tsuruga)

#'

#&'.+ +".'

&'#&

&'&%

2okkaido hinkansen  ;has hinkansen ;hasee & &' (hi ( hinn-2ak -2akod odat atee apporo)

#'

&##.% #%#.% &'#&

&'%'

Cist of train models? models?edit edit@@

 

Trains can be up to si*teen cars long. >ith each car measuring &" m (& ft) in length, the longest trains are $'' m (#$ mile) end to end. tations are similarly long to accommodate these trains. ome of Japan6s high-speed magle0 trains are consid con sidered ered hi hinka nkanse nsen, n,?%@ while other slower magle0 trains (such as the Cinimo Cinimo  magle0 tra raiin line ser0 r0iing local commun uniity near the city of <agoya of  <agoya  in 4ic ichi hi,, Ja Japa pan) n) ar aree in inte tend nded ed as al alte tern rnat ati0 i0es es to co con0 n0en enti tion onal al urban rapid transit systems. transit systems.

Cineup of JR 7entral and JR >est >est hinkansen trains in &''$

' eries, eries, the oldest model (left) and <+'' eries eries,, the newest model (right), 9ctober &'' Passenger trains?edit edit@@ Tokai!o To kai!o an! Sanyo S#inkansen ?edit edit@@ •

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' se seri ries esOO Th Thee fi firs rstt h hin inka kans nsen en tr trai ains ns,, en ente tere redd se ser0i r0ice ce in # #$ $,, an andd withdrawn in &''. /a*imum operating speed was &&' kmh (#%" mph). /ore than %,&'' cars were built. #'' se #'' seri ries esOO 5n 5nte tere redd se ser0 r0ic icee in # #" ",, an andd fe feat atur ured ed bile0el  bile0el cars cars with  with restaurant car and compartments. /a*imum operating speed was &%' kmh (#$" (# $" mph ph). ). Ca Cate terr us used ed on onlly on a any nyoo h hiink nkan anse senn Kodama ser0ices. >ithdrawn >i thdrawn in /arch &'#&. %'' seriesO seriesO 5ntered ser0ice in #&, initially on #o'omi ser0ices with ma*imum operating speed of &+' kmh (#+' mph). >ithdrawn in /arch &'#&.

 

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"'' seriesO seriesO =ntroduced on #o'omi ser0ices in #+, with an operating speed of %'' kmh (#" mph). ince &'', sets ha0e been shortened from # to  cars for use on anyo hinkansen Kodama ser0ices +'' se +'' seri ries esOO =n =ntr trod oduc uced ed in # # ,, wi with th ma ma*im *imum um op opera erati ting ng sp spee eedd of  &" kmh (#+" mph). <ow used primarily on %ikari and Kodamaser0ices

 <+'' seriesO seriesO The most recently introduced type on the Tokaido Tokaido and anyo hinkansen, in ser0ice since &''+, with a ma*imum operating speed of  %'' kmh (#" mph). Kyus#u S#inkansen?edit edit@@ •

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'' seriesO seriesO =n ser0ice since &''$ on Tsubame ser0i  ser0ices, ces, with a ma*im ma*imum um speed of &' kmh (#' mph).

 <+''-+'''''' series  =n series ser0ice since /arch &'## on Mi'uho and Sakura ser0 r0iices with a ma* a*iimum speed of %'' km kmh (#" mph). To#oku1 To #oku1 .oetsu1 an! Hokuriku S#inkansen?edit edit@@ •

5" series •

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&'' se &'' seri ries esOO The first typ ypee intro rodduced on the Tohoku Tohoku,, and Joetsu hinkansen in hinkansen  in #& and withdrawn in /arch &'#%. /a*imum speed was &$' kmh kmh (#"' mph). mph). The final configuration configuration was as #'-car sets. #&-car and #-car sets also e*isted in the past. 5# seriesO seriesO 8ile0el 8ile0el   #&-car trains introduced in #$ and withdrawn in eptember &'#&. /a*imum speed was &$' kmh (#"' mph). 5& seriesO seriesO #&-car sets in ser0ice since #+ with a ma*imum speed of  &+" kmh (#+' mph). 5$ seriesO seriesO 8ile0el 8ile0el   -car trains in ser0ice since #+ with a ma*imum speed of &$' kmh (#"' mph).

 

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5" seriesO seriesO #'-car sets in ser0ice since /arch &'## with a ma*imum speed of %&' kmh (&'' mph). 5+ se seri ries es>+ se seri ries es  (de (deliv livery ery und under er way)O #& #&-c -car ar tr trai ains ns or orde dere redd fo for  r  the 2o 2oku kuri riku ku h hin inka kans nsen en  e*tens nsiion, entere redd ser0 r0iice on the <agano hinkansen in hinkansen  in /arch &'#$, with a ma*im ma*imum um speed of &' kmh (#' mph). mph). ?%+@

2amagata an! Akita S#inkansen?edit edit@@

5 series and series and 5% series •

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$''' se $' seri ries esOO The first /ini-shinkansen /ini-shinkansen  typ ypee, intro rodduced in #& on Ham amagata agata hinka hinkansen nsen  Tsubasa se ser0 r0ic ices es wit ithh a ma* a*im imum um sp spee eedd of  &$' kmh. >ithdrawn in 4pril &'#'. 5% seriesO =ntroduced in #+ on 4kita hinkansen  Komachi hinkansen  Komachi and Hamagat magataa hink hinkansen ansen  Tsubasa ser0 r0iices with a ma*i ma *imu mum m sp spee eedd of &+ &+"" km kmh h.. <o <ow w op opera erate tedd so sole lely ly on th thee Hama maga gata ta hinkansen.

5 seriesO =ntroduced in /arch &'#% on 4kita hinkansen Komachi ser0 r0iices es,, with a ma*i *im mum spee eedd of %'' km kmh (#" mph), raised to %&' kmh (&'' mph) in /arch &'#$. Hokkai!o S#inkansen?edit edit@@ •

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2" seriesO seriesO #'-car sets scheduled to enter ser0ice from /arch &'# on the 2okkaido hinkansen with hinkansen with a ma*imum speed of %&' kmh (&'' mph).?%@ ?%@

Taiwan Hig# Spee! Rail?edit edit@@

+''T series ( series (Taiwan Taiwan 2igh peed Rail, Rail, a*k*a* Taiwan Shinkansen)O The first hinkansen type e*ported outside Japan. #&-car trains based on +'' series  en series entter ered ed se ser0 r0iice in &' &''+ '+,, wi with th a ma* a*im imum um sp spee eedd of %' %''' km kmh (#' mph). Experimental trains?edit edit@@ •

 

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7lass #''' #''' - ##

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7lass "# "# - #

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7lass # # - #+%

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7lass & & - #+ "''-'' series D>=<%"'D D>=<%"'D - #&

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7lass "&"% DT4R&#D DT4R&#D - #&

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7lass "" D%''QD D%''QD - #$

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Gauge 7hange Train Train  - # to present

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7lass 5"$ DBastech %'D %'D - &''$

7lass 5"" DBastech %'D %'D - &''" &agle" trains?edit edit@@ •

/CQ'# at  at Hamanashi Hamanashi test  test track, <o0ember &''" /CQ'# •

C/&''  #+&

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/C#''  #+&

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/C#''4  #+"

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/C-"''  #++

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/C-"''R  #+

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/CF''#  ##

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/CF''&  #+

 

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/CF''&<  #%

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/CQ'#  #

C' series  series  &'#& &aintenance "e#icles?edit edit@@ •

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## Type diesel locomoti0e

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#& Type diesel locomoti0e

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EE# Type Type diesel locomoti0e

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EE# Type Type diesel locomoti0e

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$# Type Type (rescue train)

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&# Type Type (track inspection car)

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&& Type ( +octor  +octor ,ellow ,ellow sets T#, T&, T%)

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&% Type ( +octor  +octor ,ellow ,ellow sets T$, T")

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&" Type ( +octor  +octor ,ellow ,ellow sets #, &)

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5& Type ( ast  ast i)

Cist of types of ser0ices? ser0ices?edit edit@@

Tokyo To kyo tation Tokaido hinkansen platforms, July &''"

 

The hinkansen fare system is integrated with Japan6s low-speed intercity railway lines, but a surcharge is re:uired to ride the hinkansen. 2ere, an ordinary ticket from Tokyo Tokyo to  toTakamatsu Takamatsu is  is coupled with a hinkansen surcharge ticket from Tokyo to 9kayama 9kayama,, allowing use of the hinkansen from Tokyo to 9kay 9k ayam amaa an andd us usee of lo loca call li line ness fr from om 9k 9kay ayam amaa to Taka kam mat atsu su.. Bo Borr tr trip ipss e*clusi0ely on one hinkansen, the ordinary fare and hinkansen surcharge may  be combined on one ticket. 9riginally intended to carry passenger and freight trains by day and night, the hinkansen lines carry only passenger trains. The system shuts down between midnight and 'O'' e0ery day for maintenance. The few o0ernight trains that still run in Japan run on the older narrow gauge network that the hinkansen  parallels. T-kai!- Sany- an! Kyus#u S#inkansen?edit edit@@ •

 #o'omi (のぞみ) (fast, Tokaido and anyo)

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 %ikari (ひかり) (semi-fast,Tokaido and anyo)

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 %ikari $ail Star  (  (ひかりレールスター) (semi fast, anyo)

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 Kodama (こだま) (local,Tokaido (local,Tokaido and anyo)

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Sakura (さくら) (semi-fast, anyo and 3yushu)  Mi'uho (みずほ) (fast, anyo and 3yushu) Tsubame (つばめ) (local, 3yushu)

T-#oku1 2amagata an! Akita S#inkansen ?edit edit@@ •

 %ayabusa (はやぶさ) (fast, Tohoku, using only 5" series trains) series trains)

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 %ayate (はやて) (fast, Tohoku)

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,amabiko . Max ,amabiko (やまびこ) (semi-fast, ( semi-fast, Tohoku)

 

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 #asuno . Max #asuno (なすの) (local, Tohoku)

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 /oba (あおば) (discontinued)

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 Komachi (こま) (4kita)

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Tsubasa (つばさ) (Hamagata)

.-etsu S#inkansen?edit edit@@ •

Toki . Max Toki (!")

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Tanigawa . Max Tanigawa (#$%&)

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 /sahi . Max /sahi (あさひ) (discontinued)

Hokuriku S#inkansen?edit edit@@ •

 /sama . Max /sama (あさま)

peed records? records?edit edit@@ Con"entional w#eele!?edit edit@@

7lass "" D%''QD Spee!?$'@ Train

+ocation

3ate

km%# mp#

&''

#&'

3amonomiya test track   %# 7las asss #''' #''' 7l in 9dawara, 9dawara, now 9ct hinkansen  part of T!kaid! T!kaid! #& hinkansen

Comments

 

&"

&

#"

#+

7lasss #''' 7las #''' 3amonomiya hinkansen test track 

%' speed Bormer world /ar  record for  record  for 5 5/F trains. /F trains. #%

7 lass "# any! hinkansen hinkansen

&$ Beb Bo Borm rmer erforw5/F orl orld trains. spee speedd record #+&

9yama test 9yama test + Borm Bo rmer er worl orld spee speedd 7lass # trac track, k, now now part part %#.' #.& Eec record for 5/F trains. hinkansen of T!hoku #+ hinkansen

%&".+ &'&.$ %'' series

T!kaid! hinkansen

& Beb ##

%%.' &'. $'' series

J!etsu hinkansen

& /ar  ##

%$".' &#$.$ $'' series

J!etsu hinkansen

# ep ##

"''-'' %$". &#$. series D>=<%"'D

any! hinkansen

 4ug #&

"''-'' %"'.$ &#+.+ series D>=<%"'D

any! hinkansen

 4ug #&

%"&.' &#.+ 7lass "&"%

J!etsu

%' 9ct

 

DT4R&#D

hinkansen

#&

7lass $&".' &$.# "&"% DT4R&#D

J!etsu hinkansen

&# Eec #%

7lass "" T!kaid! $&. &".# D%''QD hinkansen

## Jul #

7lass "" T!kaid! $$%.' &+".% D%''QD hinkansen

& Jul #

&agle" trains?edit edit@@

C' eries hinkansen, hinkansen, uncon0entional world speed record holder ('% kmh or  %+$.+ mph) Spee!

Train

+ocation

3ate

Comments

km%# mp#

""'

%$'

7hK! hinkansen (Hamanashi  (Hamanashi /CQ'# hinkansen test track)

""&

%

%$/CQ'#

&$ Eec Bormer world speed record #+

7hK! hinkansen #$ 4pr  Bo Borm rmer er worl worldd (Hamanashi test track) # speed record

 

"#

%#

/CQ'#

7hK! hinkansen & Eec Bo Borm rmer er worl worldd (Hamanashi test track) &''% speed record

"'

%+'

C' series

7hK! hinkansen # 4pr  Bo Borm rmer er worl worldd ?$#@ (Hamanashi test track) &'#" speed record

'%

%+"

C' series

7hK! hinkansen &# 4pr  >orld (Hamanashi test track) &'#"?$@ record

speed

7ompetition with air ?edit edit@@ 7ompared with air transport, the hinkansen has se0eral ad0antages, including scheduling fre:uency and fle*ibility, punctual operation, comfortable seats, and con0enient city-center terminals. The hinkansen system and airlines often compete with each other for the  business of city-to-city domestic tra0elers. =f the hinkansen connects two cities in less than three hours, most passengers choose the hinkansen, but if it takes more than four hours by hinkansen, the ma1ority choose air. ome e*amples are as follows. •

Tokyo - <agoya (%$& km), Tokyo  endai (%&" km km)), Tokyo   2anamaki 2anamaki (  (/orioka /orioka)) ($ km), Tokyo  <iigata (%'' km)O There were air  ser0ices between these cities, but they were withdrawn after hinkansen ser0ices started. hinkansen runs between these cities in about two hours or  less.

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Tokyo  9sakaand ("#" km)O hinkansen is e0ery dominant becausebyof fast (& hours %' minutes) fre:uent ser0ice (up to #' minutes  #o'omi )A howe0er, air tra0el has a certain share (S&'  %'M). •

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Tokyo  9kayama (+ km), Tokyo - 2iroshima (&# km)O hinkansen is reported to ha0e increased its market share from S$'M to S'M o0er the last decade.?$&@ Th Thee h hin inka kans nsen en ta take kess ab abou outt th thre reee to fo four ur ho hour urss an andd th ther eree are #o'omi trains e0ery %' minutes, but airlines may pro0ide cheaper fares, attracting price-conscious passengers. Tokyo  Bukuoka (#,' km)O The hinkansen takes about fi0e hours on the fastest #o'omi, and discount carriers ha0e made air tra0el far cheaper, so most people choose air. Bukuoka (=tatsuke) 4irport is near to the 78E

 

Ten1in,, and Bukuoka 7ity ubway  ubway Cine # connects # connects the 4irport and Ten1in, - Ten1in 0ia 2akata tation. •

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9saka  Bukuoka (""$ km)O 9ne of the most competiti0e sections. The hinkansen takes about two and a half hours by  #o'omi or Mi'uho, and the JR >est %ikari $ail Star or or JR >estJR 3yushu Sakura trains operate twice an hour, taking about & hours and $' minutes between the two cities. Tokyo - 4omori (+" km)O The fastest hinkansen ser0ice between these cities is % hours. J4C is reported to ha0e reduced the siIe of planes ser0icing this route since the hinkansen e*tension opened in &'#'.?$&@

hinkansen technology outside Japan? Japan?edit edit@@

hinkansen +''T train on train on a test run on the Taiwan 2igh peed Rail in Rail in June &''

7hina Railways 7R2& based 7R2& based on the5& the5& eries hinkansen, hinkansen, June &''+

7lass %" in the Fnited 3ingdom, eptember &'' Railways using hinkansen technology are not limited to those in Japan. Taiwan?edit edit@@

 

Taiwan 2igh peed Rail operates eries sets built by 3awasaki 2ea0y Rail operates +''T eries sets =ndustries.. =ndustries C#ina?edit edit@@ The 7hi 7hina na Rai Railwa lways ys 7R2 7R2&&, built by 7R ifang Coco  Rolling stocks corporation, with the license purchased from a consortium formed of 3awasaki 2ea0y =ndustries, /itsubishi 5lectric 7orporation, 7orporation, and 2itachi 2itachi,, is based on the 5&-#''' series design. series design. 4nite! King!om?edit edit@@ 7lass %" 5/Fs %" 5/Fs were built by 2itachi based on hinkansen technology for use on high-speed commuter ser0ices in 8ritain on the 2igh peed # line. # line. 5ra6il?edit edit@@ Japan is currently promoting its hinkansen technology to the Go0ernment of 8raIil 8raIil fo  forr use on the planned planned high-speed rail set rail set to link Rio de Janeiro, Uo ;aulo and 7ampinas. 7ampinas.?$%@ 9n #$ <o0ember &'', Japanese ;rime /inister Tar! 4s! and 4s!  and 8raIilian ;resident CuiI =nVcio Cula da il0a talked il0a talked about this rail  pro1ect. ;resident Cula asked a consortium of Japanese companies to participate in th thee bi bidd ddin ingg pr proc oces ess. s. ;r ;rim imee /i /ini nist ster er 4so co conc ncur urre redd on th thee bi bila late tera rall cooperation to impro0e rail infrastructure in 8raIil, including the Rio-Uo ;aulo;au lo-7am 7ampina pinass hig high-s h-speed peed rai raill lin line. e.?$$@ The Jap Japanes anesee con consort sortium ium inc includ ludes es the /i /ini nist stry ry of Ca Cand nd,, =n =nfr fras astr truc uctu ture re,, Tra rans nspo port rt an andd Tour uris ism m, /its tsui ui  ?$"@?$@ $@ 7o.,,/itsubishi 2ea0y =ndustries, 7o. =ndustries, 3awasaki 2ea0y =ndustries and =ndustries and Toshiba Toshiba..?$"@? 4nite! States an! Cana!a?edit edit@@ The F.. Bederal Railroad 4dministrati 4dministration on is  is in talks with a number of countries with high-speed rail, notably Japan, Brance and pain. 9n # /ay &'', BR4 Eeputy 7hief 3aren Rae e*pressed hope that Japan would offer its technical e*pe e* pert rtis isee to 7anada 7anada  and the Fn Fnit ited ed t tat ates es.. Tra rans nspo port rtat atio ionn e ecre creta tary ry Ray ?$+@?$@ ?$@ Ca2ood indicated Ca2ood  indicated interest in test riding the Japanese hinkansen in &''.?$+@ 9n # June &'', JR 7entral 7hairman, 7entral 7hairman, Hoshiyuki 3asai, announced plans to e*po e* port rt bo botth th thee <+'' eries hinkansen hinkansen  hi high gh-s -spe peed ed tr trai ainn sy syst stem em an andd the 7/agle0 7/agle0 to  to international e*port markets, including the Fnited tates and 7anada.?$@ 7ietnam?edit edit@@ ietnam i etnam Railways Railways was  was considering the use of hinkansen technology for highspeed rail between rail between the capital 2anoi 2anoi and  and the southern commercial hub of 2o 7hi /inh 7ity, 7ity, according to the <ihon the <ihon 3eiIai himbun himbun,, citing an inter0iew with 7hief 5*ecut 5*ecuti0e i0e 9fficer <guye <guyenn 2uu 8ang. The ie ietname tnamese se go0ernm go0ernment ent had already gi0en basic appro0al for the hinkansen system, although it still re:uires financing and formal consent from fro m the prime minister. ietnam ietnam re1ected a funding proposal in &'#', so funding for the " billion pro1ect is uncertain.

 

2ano noii wa wass e* e*pl plor orin ingg ad addi diti tion onal al Ja Japa pane nese se fu fund ndin ingg 9ffi 9fficial cial Ee0el Ee0elopmen opmentt 2a 4ssistanceas 4ssistance as well as funds from the >orld 8ank  and  and 4sian Ee0elopment 8ank . The #,"'-kilometre (+' mi) line would replace the current colonial-era rail line. ietnam ietnam hopes  hopes to launch high-speed trains by &'&' and plans to start by  building three sections, including a '-kilometre stretch between the central coastal cities of Ea <ang and <ang and 2uW 2uW,, seen as potentially most profitable. ietnam ?"'@?"#@ ?"#@ sent engineers to 7entral Japan Railway 7ompany for Railways had 7ompany for techn technical ical training.?"'@ In!ia?edit edit@@ =ndia and Japan are conducting feasibility studies on high-speed rail and rail  and dedicated freight corridors. corridors. The =ndian /inistry of Railways6 Railways6 white?"&@  paper ision i sion &'&'  submitted to=ndian ;arl rliiament by Railway /inister  /am amat ataa 8a 8ane ner1 r1ee ee  on # Eecember &''?"%@ en0isages the implementation of regional high-speed rail pro1ects to pro0ide ser0ices at &"'  %"' kmh. Euring =ndian ;rime /inister /anmohan ingh6s ingh6s 0isit to Tokyo in Eecember  &'' &' ',, Ja Japa pann ass assur ured ed coo coope perat ratio ionn wi with th =n =ndi diaa in cr creat eatin ingg a hi high gh-s -spe peed ed li link  nk   between <ew Eelhi and /umbai.?"$@ =n Ja Janu nuar aryy &' &'' ',, th thee th then en Ra Rail ilwa wayy /inister Calu ;rasad rode ;rasad rode a bullet train tra0elling from Tokyo to 3yoto.?""@ =n Ee Eecem cembe berr &' &'#% #% a Ja Japan panes esee co conso nsort rtiu ium m wa wass ap appo poin inte tedd to un unde dert rtak akee a feas fe asiibi billit ityy st stud udyy of a S"' "''' km hi high gh-s -spe peed ed li line ne be betw twee eenn /um umba baii an andd 4hmedabad by July &'#".?"@ 4 total of + high-speed lines are in planning stages in =ndia, and Japanese firms ha0e now succeeded in winning contracts to  prepare feasibility studies for three of the lines.