The idea was revived in the s, but many questioned undertaking such a costly project, particularly with the expansion of air travel and highways. The first Shinkansen had a maximum speed of kilometers miles per hour. The fastest trains previously, in Europe, could reach kph. Today's bullet trains, in Japan and elsewhere, have reached and in some cases exceeded kph mph. By average speed, China has the fastest train in the world, averaging kph on a route between Shijiazhuang and Zhengshou Dong, according to a biennial World Speed Survey by Railway Gazette.
The Shinkansen renewed interest in high-speed rail elsewhere, notably in Europe. France and Spain are among the leaders in Europe, and Turkey last year became the ninth country to operate a train at an average speed of kph, according to Railway Gazette.
South Korea and Taiwan also operate high-speed systems in Asia. The United States is an exception, though there are proposals to build lines in California and Texas. The fastest train in the U. Magnetic levitation. Shanghai launched a German-built maglev train in on a kilometer route between the city and the airport. It can hit kph mph. A Japanese maglev train in development has topped kph mph in tests. If built, it could reduce the travel time between Tokyo and Osaka to just over one hour.
With speed, though, some of the romance is lost. A faster Shinkansen has eliminated its dining car. No time to enjoy an onboard meal. All rights reserved. More from Other Physics Topics. Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page.
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This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Japan is world-renowned for its efficient public transportation system that connects the major cities in the country. A high-speed intercity train network that currently consists of more than 2, kilometers of rail lines, the Shinkansen was first launched more than 50 years ago.
Its inaugural segment, the Tokaido Shinkansen , started operation on October 1, , shortly before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics. A trip between Tokyo and Osaka used to take six hours and 40 minutes via the old Limited Express trains, but it was cut down to just three hours and 10 minutes with the Tokaido Shinkansen. Because of this significant development, day trips to and from the two big cities became more frequent since.
By July 13, , two months before its third anniversary, it had already serviced million passengers. New shinkansen lines are often proceeded by aggressive marketing campaigns promoting tourism in those areas, a strategy that seems to work.
But the changes that the first shinkansen heralded — a modern era built on innovative engineering and design — now, to some degree, feels like the distant past in Japan. In , the Far East archipelago is saddled with a troubled economy, struggling rural areas and an aging population.
Can a high-speed train solve those problems, too? Thanks to the shinkansen, this goal has almost been achieved. The planned impact of this hyper-mobility is to stem the tide of migration toward hungry urban centers, like Tokyo, and encourage decentralization. New trains are being developed, such as the Maglev, which could further reduce travel times between Tokyo and Osaka — the original shinkansen route — to a single hour.
Get reports from Next City correspondents on the latest developments in public transportation, carsharing, bike infrastructure, and more. Subscribe now to never miss a story! Tags: public transportation , resilient cities , high-speed rail , tokyo , japan , top
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