Shinkansen high-speed railway in Japan - statistics & facts
Ambitious plans to construct a high-speed railway system in Japan first arose8524 prior to the Second World War but remained unrealized for several decades. The story of Japan’s high-speed railway, the Shinkansen, truly began with the (first) Tokyo Summer Olympics hosted in 1964, as the government was intent on finishing the large high-speed railway project before the event was hosted. In said year, the Tokaido Shinkansen commenced operations linking the country’s two populous regions Kanto and Kansai. The first high-speed train, dubbed 'Hikari', needed slightly more than three hours to bridge the 550 kilometers between Tokyo and Osaka. Nowadays, the fastest 'Nozomi', operating at speeds up to 285 kilometers per hour (km/h), needs merely 141 minutes and runs almost as precisely as the clockwork.
Following the breakup and partial privatization of JNR in 1987, the operators of the high-speed railway lines are now five of the six regional Japan Railways (JR) passenger companies. While JR East, JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu have undergone complete privatization, the shares of JR Hokkaido are still in possession of an independent administrative agency.
The latest addition to the high-speed railway network promoted by this agency was another route of the Kyushu Shinkansen (Nishi-Kyushu Route) in September 2022. Routes under construction are an extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, due by March 2024, and the completion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, due by March 2031.
The completion of the first section between Shinagawa Station and Nagoya Station was due by 2027. However, construction has partially halted to settle disputes over possible water loss of the Oi River, likely delaying the project. Until completion, the test track and its Maglev train in Yamanashi remain an authentic model railway for industry professionals, possible overseas clients (a project in the United States is under evaluation), and rolling stock enthusiasts in Japan.
The development of Shinkansen is still underway
The state-owned Japanese National Railways (JNR) used to operate and expand the high-speed railway network starting with the San’yo Shinkansen. Before the latest addition to the regional high-speed railway tracks, dubbed Hokkaido Shinkansen in 2016, various regions in Japan were serviced by the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Joetsu Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and the Kyushu Shinkansen. Although other regional express railways called Shinkansen exist, they formally do not count as Shinkansen as their top speed does not reach 200 km/h.Following the breakup and partial privatization of JNR in 1987, the operators of the high-speed railway lines are now five of the six regional Japan Railways (JR) passenger companies. While JR East, JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu have undergone complete privatization, the shares of JR Hokkaido are still in possession of an independent administrative agency.
The latest addition to the high-speed railway network promoted by this agency was another route of the Kyushu Shinkansen (Nishi-Kyushu Route) in September 2022. Routes under construction are an extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, due by March 2024, and the completion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, due by March 2031.
Tokyo-Osaka in less than 70 minutes?
JR Central is working on the most ambitious railway project in Japan, the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, a magnetic levitation train. These Maglev trains are expected to reach operating speeds of up to 500 km/h, connecting Tokyo and Nagoya in the first stage of the project, and eventually expanding to Osaka. The trains are equipped with powerful magnets and make use of superconductors to enhance locomotion, thus reaching groundbreaking speed levels. When complete, the travel duration between Tokyo and Nagoya is expected to dramatically decline to 40 minutes, while the trip from Tokyo to Osaka will take an estimated 67 minutes. Realizing this project would further enhance the high-speed railway’s competitiveness against the domestic aviation industry.The completion of the first section between Shinagawa Station and Nagoya Station was due by 2027. However, construction has partially halted to settle disputes over possible water loss of the Oi River, likely delaying the project. Until completion, the test track and its Maglev train in Yamanashi remain an authentic model railway for industry professionals, possible overseas clients (a project in the United States is under evaluation), and rolling stock enthusiasts in Japan.
