300 (right) and 700 Series Shinkansen at Tokyo Station

The Shinkansen (新幹線, Shinkansen^?) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Japan Railways Group, more commonly known as, consists of seven for-profit companies that took over most of the Assets and Operations of the government-owned Since the initial Tōkaidō Shinkansen opened in 1964 running at 210 km/h (130 mph), the network (2,459 km or 1,528 miles) has expanded to link most major cities on the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū with running speeds of up to 300 km/h (188 mph), in an earthquake and typhoon prone environment. is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen line opened in 1964 between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka. or Honshu is the largest Island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of or Kyushu is the third-largest Island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer Test run speeds have been 443 km/h (275 mph) for conventional rail in 1996, and up to a world record of 581 km/h (361 mph) for maglev trainsets, in 2003. Determination of the fastest railed vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of " rail " MAGLEV, or magnetic levitation, is a system of transportation that suspends guides and (usually propels vehicles predominantly trains using magnetic forces

Shinkansen literally means "New Trunk Line", referring to the tracks, but the name is widely used in and outside Japan to refer to the trains running on the lines as well as the system as a whole. The name "Superexpress" (超特急, chō-tokkyū^?), initially used for Hikari trains, was officially retired in 1972 but is still used in English-language announcements and signage. is one of the train services running on the Japanese Tōkaidō / Sanyō Shinkansen "bullet train" lines

In contrast to older lines, Shinkansen are standard gauge, and use tunnels and viaducts to go through and over obstacles, rather than around them. The standard gauge (also named the Stephenson gauge after George Stephenson, or Normal gauge) is a widely-used Rail gauge. A viaduct is a Bridge composed of several small spans The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to It is separated from conventional rail and constructed in completely renewed railway system, using ATC (Automatic train control system without signal), minimum 4,000 meters (2,500 meters in the oldest Tokaido Shinkansen) radius curve, elevated track without crossing, and so forth. Automatic Train Control (ATC is a Train protection system for Railways ensuring the safe and smooth operation of trains on ATC-enabled lines is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen line opened in 1964 between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka.

Namely Tokaido Shinkansen is the world busiest high-speed rail and carries 375,000 passengers a day. is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen line opened in 1964 between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka. Though largely a long-distance transport system, the Shinkansen also serves a few regular commuters who travel to work into metropolitan areas from cities beyond the metropolitan areas.

History

Shinkansen track is standard gauge, extremely level, with welded rails to reduce vibration.

Japan was the first country to build dedicated railway lines for high speed travel. Because of the mountainous terrain, the existing network consisted of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge lines, which generally took indirect routes and could not be adapted to higher speeds. A narrow gauge railway (or narrow gauge railroad) is a Railway that has a Track gauge narrower than the of Standard gauge railways Consequently, Japan had a greater need for new high speed lines than countries where the existing standard gauge or broad gauge rail system had more upgrade potential. The standard gauge (also named the Stephenson gauge after George Stephenson, or Normal gauge) is a widely-used Rail gauge. Broad gauge Railways use a Rail gauge (distance between the rails greater than the Standard gauge of.

Early proposals

The popular English name bullet train is a literal translation of the Japanese term dangan ressha (弾丸列車), a nickname given to the project while it was initially being discussed in the 1930s. The name stuck due to the Shinkansen locomotive's resemblance to a bullet and its high speed.

The "Shinkansen" name was first formally used in 1940 for a proposed standard gauge passenger/freight line between Tokyo and Shimonoseki, using steam and electric locomotives with a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu Over the next three years, the Ministry of Railways drew up more ambitious plans to extend the line to Beijing (through a tunnel to Korea) and even Singapore, and build connections to the Trans-Siberian Railway and other trunk lines in Asia. Singapore The Trans-Siberian Railway or Trans-Siberian Railroad (Транссибирская магистраль Транссиб in Russian, or Transsibirskaya magistral' These plans were abandoned in 1943, as Japan's position in World War II worsened. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including However, some construction did commence on the line; several tunnels on the present-day Shinkansen date to the war-era project.

In 1957, Odakyu Electric Railway introduced its Romancecar 3000 SE service, setting a world speed record of (145 km/h or 90 mph) for a narrow gauge train. The, or OER, is a major private Railway company in Tokyo, Japan, best known for its Romance car series of limited express trains from Tokyo The is Odakyu Electric Railway 's name for its Limited express tourist/luxury services south-west of Tōkyō, to mountain resorts such as Gotenba This train gave designers the confidence they could build an even faster standard gauge train, as the first Shinkansen, the 0 Series, and built on the success of the Romancecar.

Construction

Mount Fuji with Shinkansen and Sakura trees in the foreground

Following the end of World War II, high speed rail was forgotten for several years. is the highest Mountain in Japan at.An Active volcano that last erupted in 1707–08 it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Passengers of conventional Tokaido Line increased and by the mid-1950s, the Tōkaidō Main Line was operating at full capacity, and the Ministry of Railways decided to revisit the Shinkansen project. The is the busiest trunk line of Japan Railway (JR connecting Tokyo Station and Kobe Station. The is the busiest trunk line of Japan Railway (JR connecting Tokyo Station and Kobe Station. Government approval came in 1958, and construction of the first segment of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka started in 1959. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen line opened in 1964 between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū Some of the construction was financed by a US$80 million loan from the World Bank. The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e A testing facility for rolling stock, now part of the line, opened in Odawara in 1962. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. The city was founded on December 20, 1940.

The Tōkaidō Shinkansen opened on October 1, 1964, in time for the Tokyo Olympics. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan Conventional Limited express ran from Tokyo to Osaka in 6h40, but Shinkansen ran in only 4h00, and in 1965 shortened to 3h10. It was an immediate success, reaching the 100 million passenger mark in less than three years on July 13, 1967 and one billion passengers in 1976. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Sixteen-car trains were introduced for Expo '70 in Osaka. Expo '70 was a World's Fair held in Suita Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970.

The first Shinkansen trains ran at speeds of up to 210 km/h (130 mph)[1], later increased to 220 km/h (135 mph). Some of these trains, with their classic bullet-nosed appearance, are still in use, and a driving car from one of them is now in the British National Railway Museum in York. The National Railway Museum (NRM is a Museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling

Network expansion

This early success prompted an extension of the first line westward to Hiroshima and Fukuoka (the Sanyo Shinkansen), and was completed in 1975. The Japanese city of ( is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan 's is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyūshū in Japan, across The is one of the lines of the Shinkansen High speed rail network in Japan.

Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka was an ardent supporter, and his government proposed an extensive network paralleling most existing trunk lines. was a Japanese Politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from July 7, 1972 to December Two new lines, the Tohoku Shinkansen and Joetsu Shinkansen, were built following this plan. Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線 is a high-speed rail line connecting Tokyo with Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 593 km Japan's The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company Many other planned lines were delayed or scrapped entirely as the national railway went further into debt, largely due to the high costs of building the Shinkansen network. By the early 1980s, Japan National Railways was practically insolvent, leading to privatization in 1987. abbreviated or "JNR" was the national Railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987

Despite this, development of the Shinkansen continued. Several new models of train followed the first, generally each with its own distinctive appearance. Shinkansen trains now run regularly at speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph), putting them among the fastest trains running in the world, along with the French TGV, Italian TAV, Spanish AVE, and German ICE trains. The TGV ( t rain à g rande v itesse, French for "high-speed train" is France 's High-speed rail service Treno Alta Velocità SpA is Special purpose entity owned by RFI (itself owned by Ferrovie dello Stato) for the planning and construction of a high-speed Ave! or aue! is a Latin phrase used by the Romans as a salutation and Greeting, meaning 'hail' The InterCityExpress or ICE (German pronunciation) is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany and neighbouring countries

Since 1970, development has also been underway for the Chūō Shinkansen, a maglev train planned to run from Tokyo to Osaka. Chūō Shinkansen (中央新幹線 is a proposed maglev line connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, Japan, a culmination of the MAGLEV, or magnetic levitation, is a system of transportation that suspends guides and (usually propels vehicles predominantly trains using magnetic forces On December 2, 2003, the 3-car maglev trainset JR-Maglev MLX01 reached a world speed record of 581 km/h (361 mph). Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. JR-Maglev is a Magnetic levitation train system developed by the Central Japan Railway Company and Railway Technical Research Institute (association of Determination of the fastest railed vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of " rail "

In 2003, JR Central reported that the Shinkansen's average arrival time was within six seconds of the scheduled time. This includes all natural and human accidents and errors and is calculated from all of about 160,000 Shinkansen trips made. The previous record was from 1997 and was 18 seconds. Japan celebrated 40 years of high speed rail in 2004, with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line alone having carried 4. 16 billion passengers. According to Japanrail. com, the website for companies that operate Shinkansen, the network has carried over 6 billion passengers.

Safety record

During the Shinkansen's 40-year, 6 billion passenger history, there have been no passenger fatalities due to derailments or collisions (including earthquakes and typhoons). Injuries and a single fatality have been caused by doors closing on passengers or their belongings; attendants are employed at platforms to prevent this. There have, however, been suicides by passengers jumping both from and in front of moving trains.

The only derailment of a Shinkansen train in passenger service occurred during the Chūetsu Earthquake on October 23, 2004. The began at 556 pm on Saturday October 23, 2004 (0856 UT, same day Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Eight of ten cars of the Toki No. 325 train on the Jōetsu Shinkansen derailed near Nagaoka Station in Nagaoka, Niigata. The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company is a Train station located in Nagaoka Niigata, Japan. Lines East Japan Railway Company Jōetsu is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located on Honshū Island on the coast of the There were no casualties among the 154 passengers. [2]PDF (43. 8 KiB) In the event of an earthquake, an earthquake detection system can bring the train to a stop very quickly. A kibibyte (a contraction of ki lo bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, established by the International Experimental Fastech 360 trains have ear-like air resistance braking flaps to assist emergency stops at high speeds. Fastech 360 is an experimental train developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock and can

Future

Construction of Hokuriku Shinkansen in Fukui

Noise pollution concerns mean that increasing speed is becoming more difficult. is a city ( Special city) located in the Hokuriku region within the Chūbu region of Japan which is on Honshū Island. Noise pollution (or environmental noise) is displeasing human- or machine-created sound that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life Current research is primarily aimed at reducing operational noise, particularly the "tunnel boom" phenomenon caused when trains exit tunnels at high speed. Tunnel boom is a phenomenon similar to a Sonic boom that occurs when a high-speed train exits a Tunnel.

JR East has announced that new trains capable of up to 320 km/h (199 mph) are to be introduced coinciding with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori in early 2011. Extensive trials using the Fastech 360 test trains has shown that operation at 360 km/h is not currently feasible due to problems of noise pollution, overhead wire wear, and braking distances. Noise pollution (or environmental noise) is displeasing human- or machine-created sound that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life This may indicate the limits to railed Shinkansen technology, and eventually maglev or another technology will need to replace it. Magnetic levitation, maglev, or magnetic suspension is a method by which an object is suspended with no support other than Magnetic fields The Operation at speeds of up to 320 km/h between Utsunomiya and Shin-Aomori is expected to allow journey times of around 3 hours for trains from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori (a distance of approximately 675 km or 419 miles). is the Capital and the most populous city of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

The Kyūshū Shinkansen from Kagoshima to Yatsushiro opened in March 2004. is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwestern tip of the Kyūshū island of Japan, and the largest city in the prefecture by some is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan. On August 1, 2005, the city merged with the municipalities of Izumi, Kagami Three more extensions are planned for opening by 2010: Hakata-Yatsushiro, Hachinohe-Aomori, and by 2014: Nagano-Kanazawa, and 2015: Aomori-Hakodate (through the Seikan Tunnel). is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan. Geography climate and population Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered The Seikan Tunnel (青函トンネル Seikan Tonneru or 青函隧道 Seikan Zuidō) is a 53 There are also long-term plans to extend the network, Hokkaidō Shinkansen from Hakodate to Sapporo, Kyūshū Shinkansen to Nagasaki, as well as to complete a link from Kanazawa back to Osaka, although none of these are likely to be completed by 2020. The Hokkaidō Shinkansen (北海道新幹線 is a High-speed rail line currently under construction between Aomori ( Honshū) and Hokkaidō through is the fifth-largest city in Japan by population It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ( is the Capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. Also, the CEO of JR Central announced plans to have the maglev Chuo Shinkansen operating Tokyo-Nagoya in 1 hr (366 km/227 miles) by 2025. MAGLEV, or magnetic levitation, is a system of transportation that suspends guides and (usually propels vehicles predominantly trains using magnetic forces Chūō Shinkansen (中央新幹線 is a proposed maglev line connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, Japan, a culmination of the officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. is the third-largest incorporated city and the fourth most populous urban area in Japan.

The Narita Shinkansen project to connect Tokyo to Narita International Airport, initiated in the 1970s but halted in 1983 after landowner protests, has been officially cancelled and removed from the Basic Plan governing Shinkansen construction. The was a planned high-speed Shinkansen ("bullet train" line proposed to connect Narita International Airport with Tokyo Station. is an international Airport located in Narita, Chiba, Japan, in the eastern portion of the Greater Tokyo Area. Parts of its planned right-of-way will be utilized by the Narita Rapid Railway link when it opens in 2010. The is a new rapid rail link under construction between Tokyo and Narita Airport. Although the NRR will use standard-gauge track, it will not be built to Shinkansen specifications and it would not be feasible to convert it into a full Shinkansen line.

List of Shinkansen lines

Map of Shinkansen network.
Lines in green: Operated by JR East
Lines in yellow: Operated by JR Central
Lines in blue: Operated by JR West
Lines in red: Operated by JR Kyūshū
Lines in gray: Planned

The main Shinkansen lines are:

• Tōkaidō Shinkansen (Tokyo – Shin-Osaka)
• Sanyō Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka – Hakata)
• Tōhoku Shinkansen (Tokyo – Hachinohe)
• Jōetsu Shinkansen (Ōmiya – Niigata)
• Hokuriku Shinkansen or Nagano Shinkansen (Takasaki – Nagano)
• Kyūshū Shinkansen (Shin-Yatsushiro – Kagoshima-Chūō)

Two further lines, known as Mini-Shinkansen (ミニ新幹線), have also been constructed by upgrading existing sections of line:

• Yamagata Shinkansen (Fukushima – Shinjō)
• Akita Shinkansen (Morioka – Akita)

There are two standard gauge not technically classified as Shinkansen lines but with Shinkansen services:

• Hakata Minami Line (Hakata – Hakata-Minami)
• Gala-Yuzawa Line – technically a branch of the Jōetsu Line – (Echigo-Yuzawa – Gala-Yuzawa)

Future lines

Many Shinkansen lines were proposed during the boom of the early 1970s but have yet to be constructed. is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven JR companies The ( is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu ( Nagoya) region of central Japan. ( also referred to as, is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group companies and operates in western Honshū. The, also referred to as, is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen line opened in 1964 between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka. is a Train station located in the Marunouchi business district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, near the Imperial Palace grounds and the is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen The is one of the lines of the Shinkansen High speed rail network in Japan. is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen Hakata Station (博多駅 Hakata-eki) is the main railway terminal of the city of Fukuoka, Japan. Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線 is a high-speed rail line connecting Tokyo with Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 593 km Japan's is a Train station located in the Marunouchi business district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, near the Imperial Palace grounds and the is a Railway station on the East Japan Railway Company (JR East and Aoimori Railway. The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company is a Railway station located in Ōmiya-ku Saitama, Japan. It is the busiest station in Saitama Prefecture and one of the hub stations in is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線 is a Shinkansen rail line which opened in 1997 between Takasaki and Nagano; it is called the Nagano is a Train station located in Yashimachō Takasaki Gunma, Japan. is a railway station in the city of Nagano in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. is a JR Kyushu railway station located in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. is the main railway station in Kagoshima Kagoshima, Japan. It is the southern terminus of the Kyūshū Shinkansen and is located on the Kagoshima The is a mini- Shinkansen in Japan, and is a part of the JR East railway company is a Railway station located in the city of Fukushima Fukushima, Japan. is a JR East railway station located in Shinjō Yamagata, Japan. The Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線 is a Mini-Shinkansen High-speed rail line on Honshū, the largest Island of Japan. Morioka Station (盛岡駅 is a Railway station located in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. is a Railway station on the JR East. It is located in Akita, Akita, Japan. The Hakata Minami Line (博多南線 is an 85 km railway line in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, connecting Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Hakata-Minami Hakata Station (博多駅 Hakata-eki) is the main railway terminal of the city of Fukuoka, Japan. The is a railway line in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. This line name is unofficial and not widely accepted The is a major rail line in Japan. Part of the JR East system it runs from Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, to is a Train station operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East located in the resort town of Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The is a railway line in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. This line name is unofficial and not widely accepted These are called Seibi Shinkansen (整備新幹線) or "planned Shinkansen. " One of these lines, the Narita Shinkansen to Narita Airport, has been officially cancelled, but a few remain under development. The was a planned high-speed Shinkansen ("bullet train" line proposed to connect Narita International Airport with Tokyo Station. is an international Airport located in Narita, Chiba, Japan, in the eastern portion of the Greater Tokyo Area.

• Tōhoku Shinkansen extension from Hachinohe Station to Shin-Aomori is under construction and will open by 2010. Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線 is a high-speed rail line connecting Tokyo with Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 593 km Japan's is a Railway station on the East Japan Railway Company (JR East and Aoimori Railway. is an unstaffed station operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East on the Ōu Main Line in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture.
• Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Kanazawa is under construction and will open by 2014. The Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線 is a Shinkansen rail line which opened in 1997 between Takasaki and Nagano; it is called the Nagano is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan. Geography climate and population Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered The complete extension of the line to Osaka is under development, and only Fukui Station is under construction. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū is a JR West and Echizen Railway train station located in the city of Fukui, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.
• Kyūshū Shinkansen extension to Hakata is under construction and will open by 2010. Hakata Station (博多駅 Hakata-eki) is the main railway terminal of the city of Fukuoka, Japan.
• The second Kyūshū Shinkansen route from Shin-Tosu to Nagasaki section is under development. is a city located in the east part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. ( is the Capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan.
• The Hokkaidō Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate is under construction and will open by 2015. The Hokkaidō Shinkansen (北海道新幹線 is a High-speed rail line currently under construction between Aomori ( Honshū) and Hokkaidō through is an unstaffed station operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East on the Ōu Main Line in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. is a city and port located in Oshima, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture A further extension of the line from Shin-Hakodate to Sapporo is under development. is a Train station located in Kita-ku and Chūō-ku, Sapporo Hokkaidō, Japan.

Shinkansen technology outside Japan

Railways using Shinkansen technology are not limited to those in Japan.

• Taiwan High Speed Rail operates 700T Series sets built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The Taiwan High Speed Rail ( also known as the THSR) is a High-speed rail network that runs along the west coast of Taiwan. The Taiwan High Speed 700T train (台灣高鐵700T型電聯車 is a type of Shinkansen Rolling stock built for Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR ( is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato Tokyo.
• China has ordered 60 eight-car 200 km/h (124 mph)EMUs based on the E2-1000 Series design named CRH-2 built by a consortium formed of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and Hitachi, for deliveries starting in March 2006. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelling train unit capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still The E2 Series Shinkansen are new trains built between 1995 and 2005 for Japan's Jōetsu, Tōhoku and Nagano Shinkansen high-speed dedicated rail lines The CRH2 is one of the high-speed train models in China. The CRH2 is a modified E2-1000 Series Shinkansen design and represents the second Shinkansen ( is a Japanese company based in the Tokyo Building in Tokyo, manufactures electric and architectural equipment as well as a major worldwide producer of () is a Multinational corporation specializing in high-technology and services headquartered in Marunouchi Itchome Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.
• Class 395 EMUs were built by Hitachi based on Shinkansen technology for use on high-speed commuter services in Britain on the High Speed 1 line. Class 395 is the designation of new dual-voltage EMUs being built for Southeastern to operate new high speed domestic services on High Speed 1.
• Japan is currently promoting its shinkansen technology to the Brazilian Government for use on the planned high speed rail link system set to crisscross Brazil.

List of Shinkansen train models

Trains can be up to sixteen cars long. With each car measuring 25 m (82 ft) in length, the longest trains are 400 m (1/4 mile) from front to back. Stations are similarly long to accommodate these trains. Japan's maglev trains are considered Shinkansen.

Series of Shinkansen

Mt. Ibuki with 300 Series

Shinkansen 700T train on a test run on the Taiwan High Speed Rail in June 2006. The Taiwan High Speed Rail ( also known as the THSR) is a High-speed rail network that runs along the west coast of Taiwan.

N700: The Newest Model

• Passenger Trains
  • 0 Series
  • 100 Series
  • 200 Series
  • 300 Series
  • 400 Series (Mini-Shinkansen)
  • 500 Series
  • 700 Series
  • 700T Series (Taiwan High Speed Rail, a. The 200 Series Shinkansen Trainsets were built for the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen dedicated high-speed rail lines in Japan The 300 Series Shinkansen high-speed Trainsets for Japan 's Shinkansen dedicated high-speed railways were introduced in 1992 on the Tōkaidō The 400 Series Shinkansen Trainsets were introduced in 1992 for Japan 's newest Shinkansen high-speed rail line at the time the Yamagata Shinkansen The 500 Series Shinkansen are the fastest most powerful and most expensive Trainsets yet to run on Japan 's Shinkansen high-speed rail network The 700 Series Shinkansen trainsets for Japan 's Shinkansen dedicated high-speed rail lines were built between 1997 and 2004 entering service in 1999 The Taiwan High Speed 700T train (台灣高鐵700T型電聯車 is a type of Shinkansen Rolling stock built for Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR k. a. Taiwan Shinkansen)
  • N700 Series
  • 800 Series
  • E1 Series (Max)
  • E2 Series
  • E3 Series (Mini-Shinkansen)
  • E4 Series (Max)

• Experimental Railed Trains
  • 1000 Type
  • 951 Type
  • 961 Type
  • 962 Type
  • 500-900 Series (WIN 350)
  • 952/953 Type (STAR 21)
  • 955 Type (300X)
  • E954 Type (FASTECH 360 S)
  • E955 Type (FASTECH 360 Z)(Mini-Shinkansen)

• Maglev Trains:
  • LSM200 - 1972
  • ML100 - 1972
  • ML100A - 1975
  • ML-500 - 1977
  • ML-500R - 1979
  • MLU001 - 1981
  • MLU002 - 1987
  • MLU002N - 1993
  • MLX01 - 1996
  • MLX01-901 - 2002

• Maintenance Trains
  • 911 Type Diesel Locomotive
  • 912 Type Diesel Locomotive
  • DD18 Type Diesel Locomotive
  • DD19 Type Diesel Locomotive
  • 944 Type (Rescue Train)
  • 921 Type 0 Numbers (Track Checking Car)
  • 922 Type (Doctor Yellow Set T1, T2, T3)
  • 923 Type (Doctor Yellow Set T4, T5)
  • 925 Type (Doctor Yellow Set S1, S2)
  • E926 Type (East i)(Mini-Shinkansen)

List of types of Shinkansen services

The Shinkansen fare system is integrated with Japan's low-speed intercity railway lines, but a surcharge is required to ride the Shinkansen. The N700 Series Shinkansen is a High-speed train with tilting capability developed jointly by JR Central and JR West for use on the Tōkaidō The 800 Series Shinkansen train was developed by Hitachi for use on the Kyushu Shinkansen high-speed rail line in Japan. The E1 Series Shinkansen trainsets introduced in 1994 were the first double-deck trains built for Japan 's Shinkansen dedicated high-speed rail lines The E2 Series Shinkansen are new trains built between 1995 and 2005 for Japan's Jōetsu, Tōhoku and Nagano Shinkansen high-speed dedicated rail lines The E3 Series Shinkansen are Japanese Shinkansen high-speed trains built for Komachi services coinciding with the opening of the new The E4 Series Shinkansen were the second series of completely bi-level Shinkansen high-speed trainsets to be built in Japan (the other being the E1 Series; the Fastech 360 is an experimental train developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock and can A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. Doctor Yellow (ドクターイエロー is the nickname for the high-speed test Trains that are used on the Japanese Shinkansen ("Bullet Train" Here, an ordinary ticket from Tokyo to Takamatsu is coupled with a Shinkansen surcharge ticket from Tokyo to Okayama, allowing use of the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama and use of local lines from Okayama to Takamatsu. is a Train station located in the Marunouchi business district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, near the Imperial Palace grounds and the is a railway station located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. For trips exclusively on one Shinkansen, the ordinary fare and Shinkansen surcharge may be combined on one ticket.

Originally intended to carry passenger and freight trains by day and night, the Shinkansen lines carry only passenger trains. The system shuts down between midnight and 06:00 every day for maintenance. The few overnight trains that still run in Japan run on the old narrow gauge network that the Shinkansen parallels.

• Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Sanyō Shinkansen

  Nozomi　(のぞみ)

  Hikari　(ひかり)　　　　　　　

  Hikari Rail Star (in Sanyo area only)　(ひかりレールスター)

  Kodama　(こだま)

• Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen

  Hayate　(はやて)

  Yamabiko, Max Yamabiko　(やまびこ)

  Nasuno, Max Nasuno　(なすの)

  Aoba (discontinued)　(あおば)

  Komachi (Akita Shinkansen)　(こまち)

  Tsubasa (Yamagata Shinkansen)　(つばさ)

• Jōetsu Shinkansen

  Toki, Max Toki　(とき)

  Tanigawa, Max Tanigawa　(たにがわ)

  Asahi (discontinued), Max Asahi 　(あさひ)(discontinued)

• Hokuriku Shinkansen (Nagano Shinkansen)

  Asama, Max Asama　(あさま)

• Kyūshū Shinkansen

  Tsubame　(つばめ)

Speed records

Gallery

0 Series	100 Series	200 Series	300 Series
400 Series	500 Series	700 Series	N700 Series
800 Series	E1 Series	E2 Series	E3 Series
E4 Series	Doctor-Yellow	Fastech 360S	500 Series ordinary class
N700 Series Green class	800 Series ordinary class

Further reading

• Hood, Christopher P. Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The 200 Series Shinkansen Trainsets were built for the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen dedicated high-speed rail lines in Japan The 300 Series Shinkansen high-speed Trainsets for Japan 's Shinkansen dedicated high-speed railways were introduced in 1992 on the Tōkaidō The 400 Series Shinkansen Trainsets were introduced in 1992 for Japan 's newest Shinkansen high-speed rail line at the time the Yamagata Shinkansen The 500 Series Shinkansen are the fastest most powerful and most expensive Trainsets yet to run on Japan 's Shinkansen high-speed rail network The 700 Series Shinkansen trainsets for Japan 's Shinkansen dedicated high-speed rail lines were built between 1997 and 2004 entering service in 1999 The N700 Series Shinkansen is a High-speed train with tilting capability developed jointly by JR Central and JR West for use on the Tōkaidō The 800 Series Shinkansen train was developed by Hitachi for use on the Kyushu Shinkansen high-speed rail line in Japan. The E1 Series Shinkansen trainsets introduced in 1994 were the first double-deck trains built for Japan 's Shinkansen dedicated high-speed rail lines The E2 Series Shinkansen are new trains built between 1995 and 2005 for Japan's Jōetsu, Tōhoku and Nagano Shinkansen high-speed dedicated rail lines The E3 Series Shinkansen are Japanese Shinkansen high-speed trains built for Komachi services coinciding with the opening of the new The E4 Series Shinkansen were the second series of completely bi-level Shinkansen high-speed trainsets to be built in Japan (the other being the E1 Series; the Doctor Yellow (ドクターイエロー is the nickname for the high-speed test Trains that are used on the Japanese Shinkansen ("Bullet Train" Fastech 360 is an experimental train developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock and can (2006). Shinkansen – From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-32052-6 (hb) or ISBN 0415444098.   (pb)

See also

• Taiwan High Speed Rail

External links

• Biting the Bullet: What we can learn from the Shinkansen, discussion paper by Christopher Hood in the electronic journal of contemporary japanese studies, 23 May 2001
• Byun Byun Shinkansen, a comprehensive guide by D. The Taiwan High Speed Rail ( also known as the THSR) is a High-speed rail network that runs along the west coast of Taiwan. A. J. Fossett
• Encyclopaedia Britannica Shinkansen
• East meets West, a story of how the Shinkansen brought Tokyo and Osaka closer together. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū