The Tokaido Shinkansen is not physically connected to the lines of the Tohoku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station. [17] Centralized traffic control manages all train operations, and all tasks relating to train movement, track, station and schedule are networked and computerized. Table below lists trains operating nationally, within a country. The routes use tunnels and viaducts to go through and over obstacles rather than around them, with a minimum curve radius of 4,000 meters (2,500 meters on the oldest Tōkaidō Shinkansen).[23]. I know this because I’ve been there. It enables automatic braking of Shinkansen trains in the event of large earthquakes. [56] The ALFA-X is currently undergoing testing. However, due to the issues with the development of the GCT, the proposal has not advanced. The route consists of approximately 477 km (296 mi) elevated viaduct through 11 districts of Gujarat and four districts of Maharashtra, a 21 km (13 mi) deep-sea tunnel starting from BKC in Mumbai, and approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) of at-grade alignment near the other terminus at Sabarmati, near Ahmedabad. 12-car trains based on 700 series entered service in 2007, with a maximum speed of 300 km/h (190 mph). Train & Rail . Moreover, we expected the first section to Nagoya to be ready by 2027. Japanese trains are clean, comfortable and unbelievably punctual. A subsequent extension to Osaka is planned to be completed by 2037. ** Only refers to 6 days of operation: 26 March 2016 (opening date) to 31 March 2016 (end of FY2015). [46] The privatized JRs eventually paid a total of ¥9.2 trillion to acquire JNR's Shinkansen network.[19]. Only services within geographical Europe (i.e. This list is intended to help you think more globally about epic hiking trips. On 28 October 2020, JR Kyushu announced it would utilize a 6-car version of the N700S for the isolated Shinkansen section from Nagasaki, with 'cross platform' change to a relay service at Takeo Onsen station to connect to Hakata. Slab track is significantly more cost-effective in tunnel sections, since the lower track height reduces the cross-sectional area of the tunnel, reducing construction costs up to 30%. And this project became the Trans-Siberian Railway. To achieve the full benefit of Shinkansen trains travelling on the dual gauge section at 260 km/h (160 mph) (the maximum speed proposed through the tunnel), alternatives are being considered, such as a system to automatically slow Shinkansen trains to 200 km/h (125 mph) when passing narrow-gauge trains, and/or loading freight trains onto special "Train on Train" standard-gauge trains (akin to a covered piggyback flatcar train) built to withstand the shock wave of oncoming Shinkansen trains traveling at full speed. Shinkansen uses a 25 kV AC overhead power supply (20 kV AC on Mini-shinkansen lines), to overcome the limitations of the 1,500 V direct current used on the existing electrified narrow-gauge system. Toyama–Jōetsu-Myōkō exists as part of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and Nagaoka–Niigata exists as part of the Jōetsu Shinkansen, with provisions for the Uetsu Shinkansen at Nagaoka; Ōmagari–Akita exists as part of the Akita Shinkansen, but as a "Mini-Shinkansen" upgrade of existing conventional line, it does not meet the requirements of the Basic Plan. In the event of an earthquake, an earthquake detection system can bring the train to a stop very quickly; newer trainsets are lighter and have stronger braking systems, allowing for quicker stopping. All northbound services from Tokyo travel along the Tohoku Shinkansen until at least Ōmiya. The Shinkansen employs an ATC (Automatic Train Control) system, eliminating the need for trackside signals. Japan's longest nose train At 22 meters, Japan Railways’ next-generation bullet train sports the longest, sleekest nose of any train that’s gone before. The first Shinkansen type exported outside Japan. Mauritania Railway iron ore train at the station in Nouadhibou. Many Shinkansen lines were proposed during the boom of the early 1970s but have yet to be constructed and have subsequently been shelved indefinitely. [10] Nevertheless, China's share is increasing fast, as close to 9.5 billion passengers in that nation have been served by the end of 2018 and is projected to pass Japan's cumulative numbers by as early as 2020.[55]. It enabled day trips between Tokyo and Osaka, the two largest metropolises in Japan, significantly changed the style of business and life of the Japanese people, and increased new traffic demand. While the plan may become more feasible after the opening the Chuo Shinkansen (sometimes referred to as a bypass to the Tokaido Shinkansen) frees up capacity, construction is already underway for other rail improvements between Haneda and Tokyo station expected to be completed prior to the opening of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so any potential Shinkansen service would likely offer only marginal benefit beyond that. Construction of the West Kyushu Shinkansen branch from, Hokkaido Shinkansen northward extension: Sapporo–Asahikawa. Two mini-shinkansen routes have been constructed: the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen. These plans were abandoned in 1943 as Japan's position in World War II worsened. To enable high-speed operation, Shinkansen uses a range of advanced technology compared with conventional rail, achieving not only high speed but also a high standard of safety and comfort. As the Seikan Tunnel, the world's longest undersea tunnel connecting two of Japan's main islands by railway, marked the 30th anniversary of its opening Tuesday, better coexistence between high-speed trains and freight is still under study. Shinkansen routes are completely separate from conventional rail lines (except Mini-shinkansen which goes through to conventional lines). The line is expected to be operational by 2023. JNR, the national railway company, was already burdened with subsidizing unprofitable rural and regional railways. [18] The conventional Limited Express service took six hours and 40 minutes from Tokyo to Osaka, but the Shinkansen made the trip in just four hours, shortened to three hours and ten minutes by 1965. [40] There have, however, been suicides by passengers jumping both from and in front of moving trains. Railways using Shinkansen technology are not limited to those in Japan. The diversity of design adds to the experience – from old fashioned local trains to modern high-speed railways, there are more than just a few ways to get around. 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 Mechanism of Railway Tracks. [1][2] It is operated by five Japan Railways Group companies. Development of the Shinkansen by the privatised regional JR companies has continued, with new train models developed, each generally with its own distinctive appearance (such as the 500 series introduced by JR West). Government approval came in December 1958, and construction of the first segment of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka started in April 1959. [24] [69] JR Central has confirmed it will construct the line through Kanagawa Prefecture, and terminate at Shinagawa Station. Several hurdles remain, however, including securing the funding. ", "新幹線鉄道騒音に係る環境基準について（昭和50年環境庁告示） The Environmental Regulation of Shinkansen Noise Pollution (1975, Environmental Agency) (Japanese)", http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000232384.pdf, "Taiwan HSR operator pitches restructuring idea to shareholders｜WCT", https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/seikan-tunnel-shinkansen-speed-up-saves-3-min/58804.article?utm_source=RGInewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Story%203&utm_campaign=RGInewsletter-%2020210402, "Construction approved on 3 new bullet train extensions", "Japan's newest bullet train line has busy first year- Nikkei Asian Review", "Talks begin on Hokuriku Shinkansen extension", http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000215188.pdf, "Promoting the Tokaido Shinkansen Bypass by the Superconducting Maglev system", "Most direct line for maglev gets panel OK", "Economy, prestige at stake in Kyoto-Nara maglev battle", "Do Faster Trains Challenge Air Carriers? It leaves Tokyo every second day in the late afternoon, and travels up the pacific coast, through the world’s longest undersea tunnel to Hokkaido, finally arriving in the far northern city of Sapporo at about nine-thirty the next morning. In December 2013 a Japanese consortium was appointed to undertake a feasibility study of a ~500 km high-speed line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad by July 2015. For more inspiration, discover our Japan vacation deals. Class 802 Bi-Mode trains were built by Hitachi for Great Western Railway, TransPennine Express and Hull Trains. Among the key people credited with the construction of the first Shinkansen are Hideo Shima, the Chief Engineer, and Shinji Sogō, the first President of Japanese National Railways (JNR) who managed to persuade politicians to back the plan. Vivek Express is one the longest train journey in India and one of the world’s largest train journey. [59], There are further plans to extend the line from Tsuruga to Osaka, with the 'Obama-Kyoto' route chosen by the government on 20 December 2016,[28] after a government committee investigated the five nominated routes. [66] An extension of this test track from 18.4 km to 42.8 km was completed in June 2013, enabling extended high-speed running trials to commence in August 2013. [61][62], To extend the benefits of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to stations west of Tsuruga before the line to Osaka is completed, JR West was working in partnership with Talgo on the development of a Gauge Change Train (CGT) capable of operating under both the 25 kV AC electrification used on the Shinkansen and the 1.5 kV DC system employed on conventional lines. With each car measuring 25 m (82 ft) in length, the longest trains are 400 m (1/4 mile) end to end. If capacity on the current Tokyo–Ōmiya section proves insufficient, at some point, construction of the Shinjuku–Ōmiya link may be reconsidered. "Shinkansen share(%)" refers to percent of Shinkansen ridership (including fully assembled exported trainsets) as a percent of "World" total. The planned travel time from Shinagawa to Shin-Osaka is 1 hour 7 minutes. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-longest-rivers-in-japan.html Shinkansen fares are generally competitive with domestic air fares. Because of the mountainous terrain, the existing network consisted of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge lines, which generally took indirect routes and could not be adapted to higher speeds. [8], The original Tōkaidō Shinkansen, connecting Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, three of Japan's largest cities, is one of the world's busiest high-speed rail lines. During the 2020-21 New Year Holiday period when fewer freight trains were operating, certain Shinkansen services were operated at 210 km/h (130 mph) on the dual gauge section and this is proposed again for the Golden Week Holiday period from 3-6 May 2021 [58]. [6] The maximum operating speed is 320 km/h (200 mph) (on a 387.5 km section of the Tōhoku Shinkansen). There were no casualties among the 154 passengers. The 211.3 km extension will be approximately 76% in tunnels, including major tunnels such as Oshima (~26.5 km), Teine (~18.8 km) and Shiribeshi (~18 km).[64]. [29] JR Kyushu also announced the service would continue to use the name 'Kamome' for the Hakata-Nagasaki service, which has been in use since 1961.[65]. The term bullet train (弾丸列車, dangan ressha) originates from 1939, and was the initial name given to the Shinkansen project in its earliest planning stages. The CEO of JR Central announced plans to have the maglev Chūō Shinkansen operating from Tokyo to Nagoya by 2027. The Shinkansen uses 1,435 mm (4 ft .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge in contrast to the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge of older lines. [12], Japan's Shinkansen network had the highest annual passenger ridership (a maximum of 353 million in 2007) of any high-speed rail network until 2011, when the Chinese high-speed railway network surpassed it at 370 million passengers annually, reaching over 2.3 billion annual passengers in 2019.[13]. [32] The current minister has not indicated whether this proposal remains supported. The cars run on top of the bridge, while the trains use a track below. "Shinkansen" column does not include Shinkansen, "Asia (other)" column refers to sum of riderships of all HSR systems geographically in Asia that do not use Shinkansen. The most popular month for these tours is October, which has the most tour departures. Many other planned lines were delayed or scrapped entirely as JNR slid into debt throughout the late 1970s, largely because of the high cost of building the Shinkansen network. After the laying of the foundation stone for the Mumbai and Ahmedabad by the Prime Ministers of India and Japan in September 2017, work began on preparatory surveys along the 508 km (316 mi) route. [84] A business case has been prepared for the government by Infrastructure Australia, and was awaiting confirmation of the project within the 2018 federal budget. Trains are up to sixteen cars long. Most services connecting Kyiv with Western Europe have been discontinued all together (due to the poor Ukrainian railway infrastructure being a significant contributing factor), with one lasting daily train to Budapest, taking more than 24 hours to complete its journey. Nearly every destination in the country can be reached by train. [60], Construction of the extension beyond Tsuruga is not expected to commence before 2030, with a projected 15-year construction period. On both the Yamagata/Shinjo and Akita lines, the narrow gauge lines were regauged, resulting in the local services being operated by standard gauge versions of 1,067 mm gauge suburban/interurban rolling stock. Over the Shinkansen's 50-plus-year history, carrying over 10 billion passengers, there has been not a single passenger fatality or injury on board due to train accidents. Consequently, the shinkansen is not affected by slower local or freight trains (except for Hokkaido Shinkansen while traveling through the Seikan Tunnel), and has the capacity to operate many high-speed trains punctually. Japan was the first country to build dedicated railway lines for high-speed travel. [26]) In Japan, significant engineering desirability exists for the electric multiple unit configuration. For trains with the most cars or meters, see, Longest train services, by country/region, within it, Longest non-stop train services, by distance & country, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Thiruvananthapuram - Silchar Superfast Express, Longest train services of Indian Railways, Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway, "Guangzhou to Lhasa Train Travel Guide, Tickets Booking Online", "The 309Э Vorkuta - Adler train route, timetable and ordering tickets", "The 350М Moscow - Tashkent train route, timetable and ordering tickets", "Tutu travel- Moscow to Andizhan (Andijan)", http://www.vr.fi/attachments/tulostettavataikataulut/newfolder_4/13.8.-11.11./fi/69schDH2p/965759_Hki-Roi-Kolari_13_8_-11_11.pdf, 10 unknown facts about Ukrainian Railways that will surprise you, "Britain in a day: the longest train route in the country", "Scotland, the North East & Manchester to the South West & South Coast", "Eurostar sets new Guinness World Record with cast and filmmakers of Columbia Pictures' The Da Vinci Code", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Longest_train_services&oldid=1020216884, Rail transport-related lists of superlatives, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Articles needing additional references from December 2014, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 15 daytime trains (Hourly from 04.40 AM – 6.40 PM) + 3 trains to Welkenraedt (245 km) (7.40 PM – 9.40 PM), 180 and 184 (southbound); 182 and 186 (northbound), 5 hrs, 51 mins (180 and 184); 5 hrs, 58 min (182 and 186), 18 hrs, 16 mins (1765) 17 hrs, 32 mins (1766), This page was last edited on 27 April 2021, at 21:19. The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC) was incorporated in 2017 to manage all HSR related activities in India. In the one-year period preceding March 2017, it carried 159 million passengers,[9] and since its opening more than five decades ago, it has transported more than 5.6 billion total passengers. [39] The record in 1997 was 18 seconds. A combination of ballasted and slab track is used, with slab track exclusively employed on concrete bed sections such as viaducts and tunnels. Injuries and a single fatality have been caused by doors closing on passengers or their belongings; attendants are employed at platforms to prevent such accidents. During Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Tokyo in December 2006, Japan assured cooperation with India in creating a high-speed link between New Delhi and Mumbai. Japan is a train enthusiast’s dream, with one of the most complex and efficient railway systems in the world. The coaches are air-sealed to ensure stable air pressure when entering tunnels at high speed. [87], Japan has promoted its Shinkansen technology to the Government of Brazil for use on the planned high-speed rail set to link Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Campinas. This article lists longest passenger rail services that are currently scheduled and running directly between two cities. [3], Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (515.4 km, 320.3 mi) in 1964,[4] the network has expanded to currently consist of 2,764.6 km (1,717.8 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph), 283.5 km (176.2 mi) of Mini-Shinkansen lines with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), and 10.3 km (6.4 mi) of spur lines with Shinkansen services. It was anticipated the train would travel approximately 600,000 km over the three-year trial. The route for the Nagoya to Osaka section is also contested. Snow-dispersing sprinkler systems have been installed, but delays of 10–20 minutes still occur during snowy weather. The railway is unique in its condensed usage of more than 40 tunnels and 20 bridges. In December 2009, then transport minister Seiji Maehara proposed a bullet train link to Haneda Airport, using an existing spur that connects the Tōkaidō Shinkansen to a train depot. [92][93], Parts of this article (those related to overall stats) need to be. A driving car from one of the 0 series trains was donated by JR West to the National Railway Museum in York, United Kingdom in 2001.[21]. Although in some cases regional extension was frustrated by protracted land acquisition issues (sometimes influenced by the cancellation of the Narita Shinkansen following fierce protests by locals), over time Shinkansen lines were built to relatively sparsely populated areas with the intent the network would disperse the population away from the capital. Following the end of World War II, high-speed rail was forgotten for several years while traffic of passengers and freight steadily increased on the conventional Tōkaidō Main Line along with the reconstruction of Japanese industry and economy. [22], Since 1970, development has also been underway for the Chūō Shinkansen, a planned maglev line from Tokyo to Osaka. This includes delays due to uncontrollable causes, such as natural disasters. [20], The first Shinkansen trains, the 0 series, ran at speeds of up to 210 km/h (130 mph), later increased to 220 km/h (137 mph). The total time it takes for this train to reach its final destination is over three days and the distance it covers in this time is 4,446 kilometers. Construction of the Shinagawa to Nagoya section began in 2014, with 86% of the 286 km route to be in tunnels. Extensive trials using the Fastech 360 test trains have shown that operation at 360 km/h (224 mph) is not currently feasible because of problems of noise pollution (particularly tunnel boom), overhead wire wear, and braking distances. In the 1950s, the Japanese national attitude was that railways would soon be outdated and replaced by air travel and highways as in the United States and many countries in Europe. In 2009, the Maglev system was approved and entered commercial construction. It travels a total distance of 2,650 miles which starts in Dibrugarh and ends in Kanyakumari. In 1957, Odakyu Electric Railway introduced its 3000 series SE Romancecar train, setting a world speed record of 145 km/h (90 mph) for a narrow gauge train. As the budget shortfall became clear in 1963, Sogo resigned to take responsibility.[17]. The Hokuriku Shinkansen is being extended from Kanazawa to Tsuruga (proposed for completion by fiscal year 2022) at an estimated cost of 3.04 trillion yen (in 2012 currency). This proposal initially involved introducing Gauge Change Trains (GCT) travelling from Hakata to Shin-Tosu (26.3 km) on the existing Kyushu Shinkansen line, then passing through a specific gauge changing (standard to narrow) section of track linking to the existing Nagasaki Main Line, along which it would travel to Hizen Yamaguchi (37.6 km), then onto the Sasebo Line to Takeo Onsen (13.7 km), where another gauge changing section (narrow to standard) would lead onto the final Shinkansen line to Nagasaki (66.7 km). Travelling on super hakucho train no. E5 series trains, capable of up to 320 km/h (200 mph), initially limited to 300 km/h, were introduced on the Tōhoku Shinkansen in March 2011. JR Central called the plan "unrealistic" due to tight train schedules on the existing line, but reports said that Maehara wished to continue discussions on the idea. Vietnam rejected a funding proposal in 2010, so funding for the $56 billion project is uncertain. [66] Following the shortest route (through the Japanese Alps), JR Central estimates that it will take 40 minutes to run from Shinagawa to Nagoya. Stations are similarly long to accommodate these trains. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen often experiences heavy snow in the area around Maibara Station in winter, requiring trains to reduce speed and disrupting the timetable. The maximum speed on these lines is 130 km/h, however the overall travel time to/from Tokyo is improved due to the elimination of the need for passengers to change trains at Fukushima and Morioka respectively. All three had worked on aircraft design during World War II.[16]. [88] On 14 November 2008, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarō Asō and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva talked about this rail project. With each car measuring 25 m (82 ft) in length, the longest trains are 400 m (1/4 mile) end to end. [43], Another derailment happened on 2 March 2013 on the Akita Shinkansen when the Komachi No. The train traverses the Seto Inland Sea via the 13-kilometer (8-mile) Seto Ohashi Bridge, the world’s longest two-tiered bridge. Besides, this train broke a speed record of 361 mph that another Japanese maglev, the MLX01, set in December 2003. Two new lines, the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen, were built following this plan. [citation needed], The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration was in talks with a number of countries concerning high-speed rail, notably Japan, France and Spain. The linear Chuo Shinkansen line is planned to link Tokyo and Nagoya by the year 2027. Vietnam Railways had sent engineers to Central Japan Railway Company for technical training. All services are operated by China Railway. The Shinkansen takes about two and a half hours by. The proposal shortens the distance between Hakata and Nagasaki by 6.2% (9.6 km), and while only 64% of the route will be built to full Shinkansen standards, it will eliminate the slowest sections of the existing narrow gauge route. Currently an important factor is the post bubble zero interest-rate policy that allows JR to borrow huge sums of capital without significant concern regarding repayment timing. 1. On 30 October 2012, JR East announced that it is pursuing research and development to increase speeds to 360 km/h on the Tohoku Shinkansen by 2020. Origin: Peking (China) Destination: Lhasa (Tibet) Distance: 1,240 miles / 2,000 km; Duration: 3-4 days; This railway opened up quite recently, in 2005. Fukushima–Shinjō and Ōmagari–Akita exist as the. Prime Minister Aso concurred on the bilateral cooperation to improve rail infrastructure in Brazil, including the Rio–São Paulo–Campinas high-speed rail line. My tour of Japan by train began in Tokyo, where enormous train stations, like Shinjuku and Shinagawa, stretch through city blocks, offering fantastic shopping options, casual dining, coffee houses, and sweet treats. Therefore, there is no through service between those lines. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. [89] The Japanese consortium included the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Toshiba. With an average of 23,000 passengers per hour in each direction in 1992, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen was the world's busiest high-speed rail line. As of 2015, there are 3 services connecting Moscow with Western Europe, which are by far the longest ones on the European continent. Until 2011, Japan's high-speed rail system had the highest annual patronage of any system worldwide, China's HSR network's patronage reached 1.7 billion and is now the world's highest. The Shinkansen name was first formally used in 1940 for a proposed standard gauge passenger and freight line between Tokyo and Shimonoseki that would have used steam and electric locomotives with a top speed of 200 km/h (120 mph). Kyoto is lobbying to have the route moved north and be largely aligned with the existing Tokaido Shinkansen, which services Kyoto and not Nara.[70]. Tokyo – Hokuriku (345 km): The fastest Shinkansen service between these cities is 2, This page was last edited on 29 April 2021, at 11:09. This train will also require only 40 minutes to run from Tokyo to Nagoya, covering 178 miles. BHEL of India and Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan have entered into a technology collaboration agreement to build and assemble the rolling stock (of E5 series) in India. [42], There have been two derailments of Shinkansen trains in passenger service. Its noise is now limited to less than 70 dB in residential areas. While the government has granted approval[68] for the shortest route between Tokyo and Nagoya, some prefectural governments, particularly Nagano, lobbied to have the line routed farther north to serve the city of Chino and either Ina or Kiso-Fukushima. Tourism Aspect of Train Services [71] The train was being trialled between Kumamoto, travelling on the narrow gauge line to Shin-Yatsushiro, where a gauge changer has been installed, so the GCT could then be trialled on the Shinkansen line to Kagoshima. This would enable a travel time from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto of 3 hours and 45 minutes, a saving of 12 minutes on the current timetable. [90][91], Vietnam Railways was considering the use of Shinkansen technology for high-speed rail between the capital Hanoi and the southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, citing an interview with Chief Executive Officer Nguyen Huu Bang.