Japan's Shinkansen turns 60: The bullet train that transformed travel

On October 1, when a leaving Nozomi No. 1 Shinkansen passed by JR Tokyo Station, passengers who had stood on the same platform sixty years before felt a wave of déjà vu.

Sixty years ago, a sleek white bullet train sped through the Japanese countryside, ushering in a new age in travel. The Shinkansen, or "new trunk line," was the first high-speed rail service in history, earning the nickname "bullet train" for its streamlined appearance and lightning-fast acceleration.

The Shinkansen was not merely unique in terms of speed; it was also a representation of Japan's post-war development and a technological marvel that changed cities and inspired people worldwide. Against such a backdrop, this article takes a look back at the Shinkansen's past and how it paved the way for transportation in the future.

The beginning of the bullet train 

On Oct 1, 1964, just days before Japan hosted its very first Olympic Games, the country launched one of its most ambitious undertakings. Tokyo and Osaka, the two biggest cities in Japan, were connected by the Tokaido Shinkansen, the country's first rail line.

It took barely four hours to traverse 515 km, as opposed to the previous six and a half hours. The 0 Series Shinkansen was the first train to run above 200 kph; its top speed at launch was 210 kph. These days, the Shinkansen can reach speeds of up to 285 km/h, and a trip from Tokyo to Osaka takes roughly two hours.

On the other hand, there were difficulties in its development. Many opposed the Shinkansen as plans started to take shape in 1957, citing the decline in US rail usage as only one reason. There was discussion about whether Japan could afford to undertake such a large project, given the damage done to the nation's trains during World War II. However, the government persisted because it believed that the Shinkansen was necessary to connect Japan's most populous regions, especially in light of the economic growth of the 1950s.

Japanese professionals have addressed geographical obstacles, as their land is mountainous. For example, the Shinkansen's long-nose or aerodynamic design allowed for the compacting of infrastructure, including smaller tunnels and closer spacing between tracks.

An earthquake-detecting system can instantly stop the train in the case of seismic activity. The train's airtight body reduces vibration and offers a quiet, smooth ride, while its tilting system allows it to lean into curves at a high speed, according to the Japanese government.

Notwithstanding these circumstances, during the history of the Shinkansen, no passenger has ever lost their life or suffered serious injuries as a result of a derailment.

Shaping urban Japan 

The Shinkansen transformed Japan's urban and transportation environment and came to be associated with efficiency and speed. People may now consider living further away from their places of employment because they could go 515 km in just over two hours, creating new opportunities for both work and play.

One of the busiest railway lines in the world, the Tokaido Shinkansen, sees up to a quarter of a million people per day—arrivals up to every five minutes by one Nozomi train, the quickest category serving only large stops. On the Shinkansen network, which has grown to nine lines, the average delay is less than a minute.

Influencing the world 

In several countries, train traffic was in decline before the Shinkansen. The TGV train was first inaugurated in France in 1981, and Germany's Inter-City Express followed in 1991.

Beyond national boundaries, Japanese train businesses also extended their technological reach. Some aspects of Shinkansen technology, such as the safety control systems and specialist rails, have been used in other rail lines.

A high-speed service started running in Taiwan and China in 2007. Hitachi constructs the "Intercity Express Trains" in the UK and is the closest thing to a bullet train in Japan in terms of technology.

Over 295 million people travelled throughout Japan using Shinkansen trains in 2022. Little wonder then that many other countries have followed Japan's example and built new high-speed railroads over the last four decades. These lines serve as more than just a means of transit; they offer quick connections throughout this huge nation, promoting economic growth and solidifying social and political harmony.

Future developments in technology, environmental concerns, and economic issues all play a role in shaping Japan's bullet trains, or Shinkansen.

Japan continues to innovate in rail technology, with plans for the creation of the next-generation maglev (magnetic levitation) trains, which promise quicker speeds and more efficiency.

The Shinkansen leads the way in environmentally beneficial transportation options thanks to Japan's dedication to sustainability and lowering carbon emissions. As pressure mounts globally to lessen dependency on fossil fuels, Japan's mostly electricity-powered train network is regarded as a prototype for sustainable infrastructure.

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