Shinkansen: Pioneering High-Speed Rail in Japan

Shinkansen is an advanced high-speed rail technology in Japan. Shinkansen is currently operated by Japan Railway Group. It was inaugurated on 1st October 1964. It began operating between Tokyo and Osaka and became the world’s first high-speed train service. The distance between Tokyo and Osaka was 515 kilometers. The ‘bullet train’ running at the speed of a bullet is known as ‘Shinkansen’ in Japan.

After the Second World War, devastated Japan focused on self-development. A better connection was needed between the major cities in Japan to revive the country’s economy. They recovered within 19 years from the war-torn conditions, and Tokyo received the status of hosting the Olympics in 1964. The ‘bullet train’ showcased the advanced technology of Japan to the entire world just a couple of days after hosting the Olympics in Tokyo.

Excellent technology has placed Japan among the top technological countries. Over 60 years since the first day, Japan has enriched the Shinkansen with more and more advanced technology. ‘Shinkansen’ has become an incredible transport with speed, service, convenience, and safety. The Japanese love this train for a comfortable journey on long and time-consuming travels. The Shinkansen can carry an average of about 400 million passengers a year. Continuous research is ongoing to increase the speed of trains while keeping safety in mind. Japan’s latest Shinkansen reaches speeds of 320 kilometers per hour (200 miles per hour). Since the construction of 502 km of railway from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka in 1964, its network has been growing steadily. Japan occupies the top position in the world in railway technology, constantly engaged in the work of increasing their capabilities. Companies such as Japan’s Hitachi and Toshiba export billions of dollars worth of trains and equipment worldwide each year.