A lineup ofJR East Shinkansen trains in October 2012A lineup ofJR Central andJR West Shinkansen trains, Torikai depotMap of Shinkansen lines (as of May 2024, excluding theHakataminami Line andGala-Yuzawa Line extension). The section of the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen west of Takeo-onsen utilizes across-platform interchange with conventional express trains due to the suspension of theGCT development.
Starting with theTokaido Shinkansen (515.4 km; 320.3 mi) in 1964,[3] the network has expanded to consist of 2,951.3 km (1,833.9 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 260–320 km/h (160–200 mph), 283.5 km (176.2 mi) ofMini-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.[4] The network links most major cities on the islands ofHonshu andKyushu, and connects toHakodate on the northern island ofHokkaido. An extension toSapporo is under construction and was initially scheduled to open by fiscal year 2030,[5] but in December 2024, it was delayed until the end of FY2038.[6][7] The maximum operating speed is 320 km/h (200 mph) (on a 387.5 km (241 mi) section of theTōhoku Shinkansen).[8] Test runs have reached 443 km/h (275 mph) for conventional rail in 1996, and up to aworld record 603 km/h (375 mph) forSCMaglev trains in April 2015.[9]
The original Tokaido Shinkansen, connecting Tokyo,Nagoya, andOsaka —three of Japan's largest cities — is one of the world's busiest high-speed rail lines. In the one-year period preceding March 2017, it carried 159 million passengers,[10] and since its opening more than six decades ago, it has transported more than 6.4 billion total passengers.[3] At peak times, the line carries up to 16 trains per hour in each direction with 16 cars each (1,323-seat capacity and occasionally additional standing passengers) with a minimum headway of three minutes between trains.[11]
The Shinkansen network of Japan had the highest annual passenger ridership (a maximum of 353 million in 2007) of anyhigh-speed rail network until 2011, when theChinese high-speed railway network surpassed it at 370 million passengers annually.[12]
Shinkansen (新幹線) in Japanese means 'new trunk line' or 'new main line', but this word is used to describe both the railway lines the trains run on and the trains themselves.[13][14] In English, the trains are also known as the bullet train. The termbullet 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.[15] Furthermore, the namesuper express (超特急,chō-tokkyū), used exclusively until 1972 forHikari trains on theTōkaidō Shinkansen, is used today in English-language announcements and signage.
A JNR map from the October 1964 English-language timetable, showing the then-new Tokaido Shinkansen line (in red) and conventional linesA 0 series set in front ofMount Fuji
Japan was the first country to build dedicated railway lines for high-speed travel. Because of the mountainous terrain, the existing network consisted of1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)narrow-gauge lines, which generally took indirect routes and could not be adapted to higher speeds due to technical limitations of narrow-gauge rail. For example, if a standard-gauge rail has a curve with a maximum speed of 145 km/h (90 mph), the same curve on narrow-gauge rail will have a maximum allowable speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).[16] Consequently, Japan had a greater need for new high-speed lines than countries where the existingstandard-gauge orbroad-gauge rail system had more upgrade potential.
The popular English namebullet train is a literal translation of the Japanese termdangan ressha (弾丸列車), a nickname given to the project while it was initially discussed in the 1930s. The name stuck because of the original0 Series Shinkansen's resemblance to aMinié ball and its high speed.
TheShinkansen name was first formally used in 1940 for a proposed standard-gauge passenger and freight line between Tokyo andShimonoseki that would have used steam and electric locomotives with a top speed of 200 km/h (120 mph). Over the next three years, the Ministry of Railways drew up more ambitious plans to extend the line to Beijing (through atunnel to Korea) and evenSingapore, and build connections to theTrans-Siberian Railway and other trunk lines in Asia. These plans were abandoned in 1943 as Japan's position in World War II worsened. However, some construction did commence on the line; several tunnels on the present-day Shinkansen date to the war-era project.[18]
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 conventionalTōkaidō Main Line along with the reconstruction of Japanese industry and economy. By the mid-1950s the Tōkaidō Line was operating at full capacity, and the Ministry of Railways decided to revisit the Shinkansen project. In 1957,Odakyu Electric Railway introduced its3000 series SERomancecar train, setting a world speed record of 145 km/h (90 mph) for a narrow-gauge train when JNR leased a trainset in order to perform high-speed tests.[19] This train gave designers the confidence that they could safely build an even faster standard-gauge train. Thus the first Shinkansen, the 0 series, was built on the success of the Romancecar.[citation needed]
In the 1950s, the Japanese national attitude was that as was happening in the United States, railways would soon be outdated and replaced by air travel and highways.[20] However,Shinji Sogō, President ofJapanese National Railways, insisted strongly on the possibility ofhigh-speed rail, and the Shinkansen project was implemented.[21]
Government approval came in December 1958, and construction of the first segment of theTōkaidō Shinkansen between Tokyo andOsaka started in April 1959. The cost of constructing the Shinkansen was at first estimated at nearly 200 billion yen,[a](equivalent to ¥1,138,547,778,068 in 2019) which was raised in the form of a government loan, railway bonds and a low-interest loan of US$80 million (equivalent to $862,922,374 in 2024) from theWorld Bank. Initial estimates, however, were understated and the actual cost was about 380 billion yen.[22] As the budget shortfall became clear in 1963, Sogo resigned to take responsibility.[23]
A test facility for rolling stock, called the Kamonomiya Model Section, opened inOdawara in 1962.[24]
1964 JNR Passenger Timetable, Table 1, showing shinkansen service on the New Tokaido Line
The Tōkaidō Shinkansen began service on 1 October 1964, in time for thefirst Tokyo Olympics.[25] 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. 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. The service was an immediate success, reaching the 100 million passenger mark in less than three years on 13 July 1967, and one billion passengers in 1976. Sixteen-car trains were introduced forExpo '70 in Osaka. 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.[26] As of 2014, the train's 50th anniversary, daily passenger traffic rose to 391,000 which, spread over its 18-hour schedule, represented an average of just under 22,000 passengers per hour.[27]
The first Shinkansen trains, the0 series, ran at speeds of up to 210 km/h (130 mph), later increased to 220 km/h (137 mph). The last of these trains, with their classic bullet-nosed appearance, were retired on 30 November 2008. A driving car from one of the 0 series trains was donated by JR West to theNational Railway Museum inYork, United Kingdom in 2001.[28]
The Tōkaidō Shinkansen's rapid success prompted an extension westward toOkayama,Hiroshima andFukuoka (theSan'yō Shinkansen), which was completed in 1975.[29] Prime MinisterKakuei Tanaka was an ardent supporter of the Shinkansen, and his government proposed an extensive network paralleling most existing trunk lines. Two new lines, theTōhoku Shinkansen andJōetsu Shinkansen, were built following this plan. Many other planned lines were delayed or scrapped entirely asJNR slid into debt throughout the late 1970s, largely because of the high cost of building the Shinkansen network.[citation needed] By 1987, the company was deeply in debt, leading to its privatization.[30]
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 the500 series introduced byJR West). Since 2014, Shinkansen trains run regularly at speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph) on theTōhoku Shinkansen; only theShanghai maglev train,China Railway High-speed networks, and the IndonesianJakarta-Bandung High-speed railway have commercial services that operate faster.[31][32][needs update]
Since 1970, development has also been underway for theChūō Shinkansen, a plannedmaglev line from Tokyo to Osaka. On 21 April 2015, a seven-carL0 series maglev trainset, planned to be used on the line, set aworld speed record of 603 km/h (375 mph).[9] The line is expected to operate at 500 km/h (310 mph), with the estimated travel time between Tokyo and Osaka taking 67 minutes. Construction commenced in 2011 and was originally scheduled to open in 2027, though it has since been delayed to at least 2034.[33]
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. Its success has influenced other railways in the world, demonstrating the importance and advantages ofhigh-speed rail.
The majority of Shinkansen routes never intersect with slower, narrow-gauge conventional lines. Consequently, the Shinkansen is not affected by slower trains and has the capacity to operate many high-speed trains punctually. Routes are also completelygrade separated from road traffic and tracks are strictly off-limits, with penalties against trespassing regulated by law. The routes make extensive use of tunnels andviaducts to go through and over obstacles rather than around them, with a minimum curve radius of 4,000 m (13,123 ft), although the older Tōkaidō Shinkansen line has a minimum of 2,500 m (8,202 ft).[16]
While most Shinkansen routes follow this pattern, two exceptions exist. They are themini-shinkansen lines, which run on conventional lines converted to standard gauge; and theHokkaido Shinkansen, which shares trackage with narrow-gauge freight trains through theSeikan Tunnel.
Shinkansen standard-gauge track, with welded rails to reduce vibration
The Shinkansen uses1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge in contrast to the1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge of most other lines in Japan.Continuous welded rail andswingnose crossing points are employed, eliminating gaps at turnouts and crossings. Long rails are used, joined by expansion joints to minimize gauge fluctuation due to thermal elongation and shrinkage.
A combination ofballasted andslab track is used, with slab track exclusively employed on concrete bed sections such as viaducts and tunnels. 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%.[34]However, the smaller diameter of Shinkansen tunnels, compared to some other high-speed lines, has resulted in the issue oftunnel boom becoming a concern for residents living close to tunnel portals.
The slab track consists of rails, fasteners and track slabs with a cement asphalt mortar. On the roadbed and in tunnels, circular upstands, measuring 400–520 mm (16–20 inches) in diameter and 200 mm (7.9 inches) high, are located at 5-metre intervals. The prefabricated upstands are made of eitherreinforced concrete or pre-stressed reinforced concrete; they prevent the track slab from moving latitudinally or longitudinally. One track slab weighs approximately 5 tons and is 2,220–2,340 mm (87–92 inches) wide, 4,900–4,950 mm (193–195 inches) long and 160–200 mm (6.3–7.9 inches) thick.[35]
Braking curve for the original ATC-1 used on theTokaido Shinkansen (Vertical axis represents the speed of the train whereas the horizontal axis represents the distance.)Replica of the Shinkansen CTC as seen at theKyoto Railway Museum
The Shinkansen employs anATC (automatic train control) system, eliminating the need for trackside signals. It uses a comprehensive system ofautomatic train protection.[23]Centralized traffic control manages all train operations, and all tasks relating to train movement, track, station and schedule are networked and computerized.
Shinkansen uses a25 kV AC overhead power supply (20 kV AC onMini-shinkansen lines), to overcome the limitations of the 1,500 Vdirect current used on the existing electrified narrow-gauge system. Power is distributed along the train's axles to reduce the heavy axle loads under single power cars.[23] The AC frequency of the power supply for the Tokaido Shinkansen is 60 Hz.
Japanese loading gauge legend. Green: Shinkansen loading gauge Grey: Conventional loading gauge Blue: Rural loading gauge Figures in brackets are former limits.
Shinkansen trains areelectric multiple units (EMUs), offering fast acceleration, deceleration and reduced damage to the track because of the use of lighter vehicles compared to locomotives or power cars. The coaches are air-sealed to ensure stable air pressure when entering tunnels at high speed.
Shinkansen trains (excluding mini-Shinkansen) are also built to a largerloading gauge compared to conventional-speed rolling stock.[36] This larger loading gauge permits wider coaches, allowing for 5-abreast seating (2+3) in Standard Class coaches, compared to the more common 4-abreast (2+2) seating usually found elsewhere. On occasions, this wider loading gauge was also used to allow 6-abreast seating (3+3) on certain trains, such as theE1 andE4 series sets. This, combined with a lack of power cars, allows for a higher passenger capacity within a shorter train length. However, since mini-Shinkansen lines are effectively track-regauged conventional lines, the conventional loading gauge for 1,067mm lines still applies on mini-Shinkansen lines.
The Shinkansen has used EMUs from the outset, with the0 Series Shinkansen having all axles powered. Other railway manufacturers were traditionally reluctant or unable to use distributed traction configurations (Talgo, the GermanICE 2 and the French (and subsequently South Korean)TGV (andKTX-I andKTX-Sancheon) use thelocomotive (also known as power car) configuration with theRenfe Class 102 and continues with it for theTalgo AVRIL because it is not possible to use powered bogies as part of Talgo's bogie design, which uses a modifiedJacobs bogie with a single axle instead of two and allows the wheels to rotate independently of each other, on the ICE 2, TGV and KTX it is because it easily allows for a high ride quality and less electrical equipment.[37]) In Japan, significant engineering desirability exists for the electric multiple unit configuration. A greater proportion of motored axles permits higher acceleration, so the Shinkansen does not lose as much time if stopping frequently. Shinkansen lines have more stops in proportion to their lengths than high-speed lines elsewhere in the world.
In practice, the Tokaido, San'yō, and Kyushu lines form a contiguous west/southbound line from Tokyo, as train services run between the Tokaido and San'yō lines and between the San'yō and Kyushu lines, though the lines are operated by different companies.
The Tokaido Shinkansen tracks are not physically connected to the lines of the Tohoku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, as they use different electrification standards, signaling systems, and earthquake mitigation devices. There also exists a dispute between JR East and JR Central about the use of the two platforms which were added to the Tokaido line's half of Tokyo station. Before JNR's privatization, they were conceived as being shared with the Tohoku line, and their construction used funds allocated to the Tohoku line's extension to Tokyo; however, the extension was finished after privatization, by which time the platforms were owned by JR Central. Therefore, there is no through service between those lines. All northbound services from Tokyo travel along the Tohoku Shinkansen until at least Ōmiya before splitting off towards Sendai or Takasaki.
Instead of constructing a newright of way, two further lines known asMini-Shinkansen have been constructed by re-gauging and upgrading existing sections of conventional lines. The Mini-Shinkansen trains arecoupled to a Tōhoku Shinkansen train between Tokyo and their start station where theycouple/decouple on the platform before continuing their journey. While operating on the Mini-Shinkansen lines trains have a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).
There are two standard-gauge lines not technically classified as Shinkansen lines but run Shinkansen trains as they use tracks leading to Shinkansen storage/maintenance yards:
Gala-Yuzawa Line – technically a branch of theJōetsu Line – (Echigo-Yuzawa –Gala-Yuzawa). The line serves Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort[ja] (owned by JR East) and only operates during the winter skiing season (generally mid-December — early May).
Chūō Shinkansen (Tokyo–Nagoya–Osaka) is the firstmaglev Shinkansen line, which has been under construction since 2014. JR Central originally aimed to begin commercial service between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027. However, in 2024, Central Japan Railway Co President Shunsuke Niwa said that due to construction delays a 2027 opening was now impossible and it is not expected to open until at least 2034.[39][33]
The extension ofHokuriku Shinkansen toOsaka is proposed, with the route via Obama and Kyoto selected by the government on 20 December 2016.[41] Construction is proposed to commence in 2030, and take 15 years.
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.
Ōu Shinkansen (奥羽新幹線): Fukushima–Yamagata–Akita
Fukushima–Shinjō and Ōmagari–Akita exist as theYamagata Shinkansen andAkita Shinkansen, respectively, but as "Mini-Shinkansen" upgrades of existing track, they do not meet the requirements of the Basic Plan.
There have been some activity regarding the Shikoku and Trans-Shikoku Shinkansen in recent years. In 2016, the Shikoku and Trans-Shikoku Shinkansen were identified as potential future projects in a review of long-term plans for the Shikoku area and funds allocated towards the planning of the route.[44] A profitability study has also been commissioned by the city ofOita in 2018 that found the route to be potentially profitable[45]
East Kyushu Shinkansen (東九州新幹線,Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen): Fukuoka–Ōita–Miyazaki–Kagoshima
In addition, the Basic Plan specified that the Jōetsu Shinkansen should start fromShinjuku, notTokyo Station, which would have required building an additional 30 km (19 mi) of track between Shinjuku and Ōmiya. While no construction work was ever started, land along the proposed track, including an underground section leading to Shinjuku Station, remains reserved. If capacity on the Tokyo–Ōmiya section proves insufficient at some point, construction of the Shinjuku–Ōmiya link may be reconsidered.
In December 2009, then transport ministerSeiji Maehara proposed a bullet train link toHaneda Airport, using an existing spur that connects theTōkaidō Shinkansen to a train depot.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.[46] The succeeding minister has not indicated whether this proposal remains supported. While the plan may become more feasible after the opening the Chūō 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 the2020 Tokyo Olympics,[needs update] so any potential Shinkansen service would likely offer only marginal benefit. Despite these plans ultimately not being realized (owing in part due to the effects of theCOVID-19 pandemic), rail projects in the vicinity of Haneda Airport, including theHaneda Airport Access Line and theTokyo Rinkai Subway Line, continue to undergo planning.[47]
TheNarita Shinkansen project to connect Tokyo toNarita International Airport, initiated in the 1970s but halted in 1983 after landowner protests, has been officially cancelled and removed from the Basic Plan governing Shinkansen construction. Parts of its planned right-of-way were used by theNarita Sky Access Line which opened in 2010, and theKeiyo Line reused space originally set aside for the Narita Shinkansen terminus atTokyo Station. Although the Sky Access Line uses standard-gauge track, it was not built to Shinkansen specifications and there are no plans to convert it into a full Shinkansen line.
Tokyo Station Tokaido Shinkansen platforms, September 2021The Shinkansen fare system is integrated with Japan's low-speed intercity railway lines, with a surcharge required to ride the Shinkansen. Here, an ordinary ticket fromTokyo toTakamatsu is coupled with a Shinkansen express fare ticket from Tokyo toOkayama, allowing use of the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama and use of local lines from Okayama to Takamatsu. For trips exclusively on one Shinkansen, the base fare and Shinkansen express fare may be combined into a single ticket.
Originally intended to carry passenger trains by day and freight trains by night, the Shinkansen lines carried exclusively passengers for the first five and a half decades of their operation. Light freight has been carried on some passenger services since 2019, and there are plans to expand this with freight-only trains in the future.[48][49]
The system shuts down between midnight and 06:00 every day for maintenance. Japan's few remaining overnight passenger trains run on the older, narrow-gauge network that the Shinkansen parallels.
There are three principal service types on the Shinkansen:
Express services – these stop at only the very largest stations and, as a result, are the fastest Shinkansen services measured by average speed.
Semi-express services – these stop at certain smaller stops alongside stopping at all the largest stations. These allow for faster connections from smaller stops to larger stations than would be otherwise possible with a local service.
Local services – these stop at every station along the Shinkansen line. Consequently, local services are the slowest Shinkansen services measured by average speed. Frequently, these services only operate on a part of the line, instead of covering the entirety.
Trains are up to sixteen cars long. With each car measuring 25 m (82 ft) in length, the longest trains are 400 m (1⁄4 mile) end to end. Stations are similarly long to accommodate these trains. Some of Japan's high-speed maglev trains are considered Shinkansen,[51] while other slower maglev trains (such asLinimo, serving local communities in and nearbyNagoya,Aichi Prefecture) are intended as alternatives to conventional urbanrapid transit systems.
0 series: The first Shinkansen trains which entered service in 1964. Maximum operating speed was 220 km/h (135 mph). More than 3,200 cars were built. Withdrawn in December 2008.
100 series: Entered service in 1985, and featuredbilevel cars with restaurant car and compartments. Maximum operating speed was 230 km/h (145 mph). Later used only on San'yō ShinkansenKodama services. Withdrawn in March 2012.
300 series: Entered service in 1992, initially onNozomi services with maximum operating speed of 270 km/h (170 mph). Withdrawn in March 2012.
500 series: Introduced onNozomi services in 1997, with an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph). Since 2008, sets have been shortened from 16 to 8 cars for use on San'yō ShinkansenKodama services.
700 series: Introduced in 1999, with maximum operating speed of 285 km/h (175 mph). The JR Central owned units were withdrawn in March 2020, with the JR West owned units continuing to operate on theSan'yō Shinkansen line between Shin-Osaka and Hakata.
N700 series: In service since 2007, with a maximum operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph).
N700A series: An upgraded version of N700 series with improved acceleration & deceleration and quieter traction motors. All N700 series sets have been converted to N700A.
N700S series: An evolution of the N700 series. First trainset was rolled out in 2019 with passenger services commencing on 1 July 2020.
200 series: The first type introduced on theTohoku andJoetsu Shinkansen in 1982 and withdrawn in April 2013. Maximum speed was 240 km/h (150 mph). The final configuration was as 10-car sets. 12-car and 16-car sets also operated at earlier times.
E1 series:Bilevel 12-car trains introduced in 1994 and withdrawn in September 2012. Maximum speed was 240 km/h (150 mph).
E2 series: 8/10-car sets in service since 1997 with a maximum speed of 275 km/h (170 mph).
E4 series:Bilevel 8-car trains introduced in 1997 and withdrawn in October 2021. Maximum speed was 240 km/h (150 mph).
E5 series: 10-car sets in service since March 2011 with a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph).
H5 series: The cold weather derivative of the E5 series. 10-car sets entered service from March 2016 on theHokkaido Shinkansen with a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph).[53][54]
E7 series: 12-car trains operated on theHokuriku Shinkansen since March 2014, with a maximum speed of 260 km/h (160 mph).[55] In 2019, the E7 series began operating on the Joetsu Shinkansen.
W7 series: 12-car trains operated on the Hokuriku Shinkansen since March 2015, with a maximum speed of 260 km/h (160 mph).[55]
E6 series: Introduced in March 2013 on Akita ShinkansenKomachi services, with a maximum speed of 300 km/h (185 mph), raised to 320 km/h (200 mph) in March 2014.
E8 series: Replacement of the E3 series for Tsubasa services introduced from 2024.
The Shinkansen is very reliable thanks to several factors, including its near-total separation from slower traffic. There are separate laws governing interfering with or otherwise obstructing Shinkansen trains, tracks, or its operation.[citation needed] In 2016,JR Central reported that the Shinkansen's average delay from schedule per train was 24 seconds. This includes delays due to uncontrollable causes, such as natural disasters.[58]
Over the Shinkansen's 60-plus year history, carrying over 10 billion passengers, there have been no passenger fatalities due to train accidents such as derailments or collisions,[3] despite frequent earthquakes and typhoons. Injuries and asingle fatality have been caused by doors closing on passengers or their belongings; attendants are employed at platforms to prevent such accidents.[59] There have, however, been suicides by passengers jumping both from and in front of moving trains.[60][61]
Another derailment happened on 2 March 2013 on theAkita Shinkansen when theKomachi No. 25 train derailed in blizzard conditions inDaisen, Akita. No passengers were injured.[63]
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. New anti-derailment devices were installed on tracks after analysis of the Jōetsu derailment.[64][65]
Several months after the exposure of theKobe Steel falsification scandal, which is among the suppliers ofhigh-strength steel for Shinkansen trainsets, cracks were found upon inspection of a singlebogie, and removed from service on 11 December 2017.[66]
On 23 January 2024, a massive power outage struck the Tohoku, Hokuriku and Joetsu Shinkansen lines, resulting in the cancellation of 283 trains and affecting about 120,000 passengers.JR East said that the outage was caused by a Kagayaki service train touching an overhead power cable which was left dangling after the metal rod supporting it fractured betweenOmiya Station inSaitama andUeno Station in Tokyo. The incident damaged the train's pantographs and a window,[67] while two railway employees were hospitalized following an explosion that occurred at the site during repairs.[68] Most Shinkansen services were restored the following morning.[69]
In September 2024 and March 2025, two decoupling incidents took place on trains servicing the Tohoku line.[70]
On 15 August 2025, a burning smell was noticed by crew members aboard aKodama service of theTokaido Shinkansen. At the time, theN700S set was travelling betweenMaibara andGifu-Hashima station, where the train was stopped and white smoke was found coming from underneath car number 9. The fire department was called, and identified a fire on the underside of the vehicle. There were no reported injuries, but the 250 passengers were forced to disembark and take a laterNozomi service.[71][72]
The Shinkansen has had a significant beneficial effect on Japan's business, economy, society, environment and culture beyond mere construction and operational contributions.[73] The resultant time savings alone from switching from a conventional to a high-speed network have been estimated at 400 million hours, and the system has an economic contribution of¥500 billion per year.[73] That does not include the savings from reduced reliance on imported fuel, which also hasnational security benefits. Shinkansen lines, particularly in the very crowded coastalTaiheiyō Beltmegalopolis, met two primary goals:
Shinkansen trains reduced the congestion burden on regional transportation by increasing throughput on a minimal land footprint, therefore being economically preferable compared to modes (such as airports or highways) common in less densely populated regions of the world.
As rail was already the primary urban mode of passenger travel, from that perspective it was akin to asunk cost; there was not a significant number of motorists to convince to switch modes. The initial megalopolitan Shinkansen lines were profitable and paid for themselves. Connectivity rejuvenated rural towns such asKakegawa that would otherwise be too distant from major cities.[73]
However, upon the introduction of the 1973 Basic Plan the initial prudence in developing Shinkansen lines gave way to political considerations to extend the mode to far less populated regions of the country, partly to spread these benefits beyond the key centres ofKanto andKinki. Although in some cases regional extension was frustrated by protracted land acquisition (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 to disperse the population away from the capital.
Such expansion had a significant cost. JNR, the national railway company, was already burdened with subsidizing unprofitable rural and regional railways. It then assumed Shinkansen construction debt until the government corporation eventually owed some¥28 trillion, contributing to it being regionalised and privatized in 1987.[74] The privatized JRs eventually paid¥9.2 trillion to acquire JNR's Shinkansen network.[73]
Following privatization, the JR group of companies have continued Shinkansen network expansion to less populated areas, but with far more flexibility tospin-off unprofitable railways or cut costs than in JNR days. An important factor is the postbubblezero interest-rate policy that allows JR to borrow huge sums of capital without significant concern regardingrepayment timing.
AUCLA study found that the presence of a Shinkansen line had improved housing affordability by making it more realistic for lower-income city workers to live in exurban areas much further away from the city, which tend to have cheaper housing options. That in turn helps the city to "decentralise" and reduce city property prices.[75]
Traveling by the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka produces only around 16% of thecarbon dioxide of the equivalent journey by car, a saving of 15,000 tons of CO2 per year.[73]
Noise pollution concerns have made increasing speed more difficult. In Japan,population density is high and there have been strong protests against the Shinkansen's noise pollution. Its noise is thus limited to less than 70dB in residential areas.[76]Improvement and reduction of thepantograph, weight saving of cars, and construction ofnoise barriers and other measures have been implemented. Research is primarily aimed at reducing operational noise, particularly thetunnel boom phenomenon caused when trains transit tunnels at high speed.
Because of the risk of earthquakes in Japan, the Urgent Earthquake Detection and Alarm System (UrEDAS) (anearthquake warning system) was introduced in 1992. It enables automatic braking of Shinkansen trains in the event of large earthquakes.
TheTōkaidō Shinkansen often experiences heavy snow in the area aroundMaibara Station between December and February, requiring trains to reduce speed thus disrupting the timetable. Snow-dispersing sprinkler systems have been installed, but delays of 10–20 minutes still occur during snowy weather. Snow-related treefalls have also caused service interruptions. Along theJōetsu Shinkansen route, snow can be very heavy, with depths of two to three metres; the line is equipped with stronger sprinklers andslab track to mitigate the snow's effects. Despite having multiple days with delays longer than 30 minutes, theTōhoku Shinkansen still presents a slight advantage in reliability compared to air travel on days with significant snowfall.[77]
* The sum of the ridership of individual lines does not equal the ridership of the system because a single rider may be counted multiple times when using multiple lines, to get proper ridership figures for a system, in the above case, is only counted once.
** Only refers to 6 days of operation: 26 March 2016 (opening date) to 31 March 2016 (end of FY2015).
Until 2011, Japan's high-speed rail system had the highest annual patronage of any system worldwide, when China's HSR network's patronage reached 1.7 billion and became the world's highest.[80][unreliable source?][81]
Data initalics includes extrapolated estimations where data is missing. Turkey and Russia data here is included in "Europe" column, rather than split between Asia and Europe. Only systems with 200 km/h or higher regular service speed are considered.
"Shinkansen share(%)" refers to percent of Shinkansen ridership (including fully assembled exported trainsets) as a percent of "World" total. Currently this only pertains to Taiwan, but may change if Japan exports Shinkansen to other nations.
"Shinkansen" column does not include Shinkansenknock down kits made in Japan exported toChina for assembly, or any derivative system thereof in China
"Asia (other)" column refers to sum of riderships of all HSR systems geographically in Asia that do not use Shinkansen. (this data excludes Russia and Turkey, which geographically have parts in Asia but for sake of convenience included in Europe column)
For 2013,Japan's Ministry of Transport has not updated data, nor is summed European data available (even 2012 data is very rough), however Taiwan ridership is 47.49 million[84] and Korea with 54.5 million[85] and China with 672 million in 2013.[86]
Cumulative ridership since October 1964 is over 5 billion passengers for the Tokaido Shinkansen Line alone and 10 billion passengers for Japan's entire shinkansen network.[80][unreliable source?] 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.[87]
E5 series trains, capable of up to 320 km/h (200 mph), initially limited to 300 km/h (186 mph), were introduced on theTōhoku Shinkansen in March 2011. Operation at the maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph) betweenUtsunomiya andMorioka on this route commenced on 16 March 2013. It reduced the journey time to around 3 hours for trains from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, a distance of 674 km (419 mi).
Extensive trials using theFastech 360 test trains have shown that operation at 360 km/h (224 mph) is not feasible because of problems ofnoise pollution (particularlytunnel boom), overhead wire wear, and braking distances. On 30 October 2012, JR East announced that it was pursuing research and development to increase speeds to 360 km/h (224 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen by 2020.[88] TheALFA-X is undergoing testing.
Upon commencement of services in 2016, the maximum speed on the approximately 82 km (51 mi)dual gauge section of theHokkaido Shinkansen (including through theSeikan Tunnel) was 140 km/h (85 mph), which was increased to 160 km/h (100 mph) by March 2019.[89] There are approximately 50 freight trains using the dual gauge section each day, so limiting the travel of such trains to times outside of Shinkansen services is not an option. Because of this and other weather-related factors cited by JR East and JR Hokkaido, the fastest journey time between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is 3 hours, 57 minutes.
During the 2020–21 New Year Holiday period, certain Shinkansen services were operated at 210 km/h (130 mph) on the dual gauge section and was proposed again for theGolden Week Holiday period from 3–6 May 2021, due to fewer freight trains operating.[89]
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 theshock wave of oncoming Shinkansen trains traveling at full speed. This would enable a travel time from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto of 3 hours and 45 minutes, a saving of 12 minutes.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen was extended from Kanazawa to Tsuruga on 16 March 2024.[90]
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,[41] after a government committee investigated the five nominated routes.[91]
Construction of the extension beyond Tsuruga is not expected to commence before 2030, with a projected 15-year construction period. On 6 March 2017 the government committee announced the chosen route from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka is to be viaKyotanabe, with a station atMatsuiyamate on theKatamachi Line.[92][93]
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 aGauge 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. A trial of the proposed bogie was undertaken on a purpose-built 180 m (590 ft) gauge-changer at Tsuruga, but it was unsuccessful and the plans were abandoned.[94]
JR Hokkaido is extending the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto toSapporo to open by 2038. The 211.3 km (131.3 mi) extension will be approximately 76% in tunnels, including major tunnels such as Toshima (~32.675 km (20.303 mi)) Oshima (~26.5 km (16.5 mi)), Teine (~26.5 km (16.5 mi)) and Shiribeshi (~18 km (11 mi)).[95]
Although an extension from Sapporo toAsahikawa was included in the 1973 list of planned lines, at this time it is unknown whether the Hokkaido Shinkansen will be extended beyond Sapporo.
JR Kyushu opened the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen fromTakeo-Onsen toNagasaki (built to full Shinkansen standard) on 23 September 2022, with the existing narrow-gauge section between Shin-Tosu and Takeo Onsen proposed to be upgraded as part of this project.
This proposal initially involved introducingGauge Change Trains (GCT) travelling from Hakata to Shin-Tosu (26.3 km (16.3 mi)) on the existing Kyushu Shinkansen line, then passing through a specific gauge changing (standard to narrow) section of track linking to the existingNagasaki Main Line, along which it would travel to Hizen Yamaguchi (37.6 km (23.4 mi)), then onto theSasebo Line to Takeo-Onsen (13.7 km (8.5 mi)), where another gauge changing section (narrow to standard) would lead onto the final Shinkansen line to Nagasaki (66 km (41 mi)). However, significant technical issues with the axles of the GCT resulted in its cancellation.
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.[52] 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.[50]
The Shinkansen line shortens the distance between Hakata and Nagasaki by 6.2% (9.6 km (6.0 mi)), and while only 64% of the route is built to full Shinkansen standards, it eliminated the slowest sections of the previous narrow-gauge route.
As part of the GCT proposal, the 12.8 km (8.0 mi) section of single track between Hizen Yamaguchi and Takeo Onsen was proposed to be duplicated. However, due to the issues with the development of the GCT, the proposal did not advance.
The initial section between Nagasaki and Takeo Onsen opened on 23 September 2022.[96]
Maglev trains have been undertaking test runs on the Yamanashi test track since 1997, running at speeds of over 500 km/h (310 mph). As a result of this extensive testing, maglev technology is almost ready for public usage.[97] An extension of the test track from 18.4 to 42.8 km (11.4 to 26.6 mi) was completed in June 2013, enabling extended high-speed running trials to commence in August 2013. This section will be incorporated into theChūō Shinkansen which will eventually link Tokyo to Osaka. Construction of theShinagawa toNagoya section began in 2014, with 86% of the 286 km (178 mi) route to be in tunnels. Plans were approved in 2017 for the Chūō Shinkansen to begin atTokyo Station, rather thanShinagawa Station as initially planned due to difficulties in securing land.[98]
JR Central originally aimed to begin commercial service between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027. However, in 2024, Central Japan Railway Co President Shunsuke Niwa said that due to construction delays a 2027 opening was now impossible and it is not expected to open until at least 2034.[39][33]
Following the shortest route (through theJapanese Alps), JR Central estimates that it will take 40 minutes to run from Shinagawa to Nagoya. The planned travel time from Shinagawa to Shin-Osaka is 1 hour 7 minutes. The Tokaido Shinkansen as of 2010[update] had a minimum connection time of 2 hours 19 minutes.[99]
While the government has granted approval[100] 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 ofChino and eitherIna orKiso-Fukushima. However, that would increase both the travel time (from Tokyo to Nagoya) and the cost of construction.[101] JR Central has confirmed it will construct the line throughKanagawa Prefecture, and terminate atShinagawa Station.
The route for the Nagoya to Osaka section is also contested. It is planned to go viaNara, about 40 km (25 mi) south ofKyoto. Kyoto is lobbying to have the route moved north and be largely aligned with the existingTokaido Shinkansen, which services Kyoto and not Nara.[102]
Mini-shinkansen (ミニ新幹線) is the name given to the routes where former narrow-gauge lines have been converted to standard gauge to allow Shinkansen trains to travel to cities without the expense of constructing full Shinkansen standard lines.
Two mini-shinkansen routes have been constructed: theYamagata Shinkansen andAkita Shinkansen. Shinkansen services to these lines traverse theTohoku Shinkansen line from Tokyo before branching off to traditional main lines. On both the Yamagata/Shinjo and Akita lines, the narrow-gauge lines were regauged, resulting in the local services being operated bystandard-gauge versions of1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) suburban/interurban rolling stock. On the Akita line between Omagari and Akita, one of the two narrow-gauge lines was regauged, and a section of the remaining narrow-gauge line is dual gauge, providing opportunity for Shinkansen services to pass each other without stopping.
The maximum speed on these lines is 130 km/h (81 mph), however the overall travel time to/from Tokyo is improved due to the elimination of the need for passengers to change trains atFukushima andMorioka respectively.
As theloading gauge (size of the train that can travel on a line) was not altered when the rail gauge was widened, only Shinkansen trains specially built for these routes can travel on the lines. They are the E3 and E6 series trains.
Whilst no further Mini-shinkansen routes have been proposed, it remains an option for providing Shinkansen services to cities on the narrow-gauge network.[citation needed]
Construction of abase tunnel on theYamagata Shinkansen is proposed, with JR East having undertaken a survey of a planned route from Niwasaka to Sekine, just south of Yonezawa station.[103] 23.1 km (14.4 mi) of the proposed 24.9 km (15.5 mi) line would be in tunnel, mostly to the north of the existing 88 km (55 mi) Fukushima – Yamagata section. To be built on an improved alignment, the tunnel would lower journey times between Fukushima and Yamagata by ~10 min due to a proposed line speed of up to 200 km/h.
The tunnel would avoid the Itaya Toge pass through theŌu Mountains west of Fukushima. Gradients range from 3.0% to 3.8% and the line reaches an altitude of 548 m (1,798 ft). The curvature and steep grades of the current line limit train speeds to 55 km/h (34 mph) or less, and it is vulnerable to heavy rain and snowfall as well as high winds. Between 2011 and 2017 a total of 410 Yamagata mini-Shinkansen services were either suspended or delayed, and 40% of these incidents occurred on the line over the Itaya Toge pass.
If the¥150 billion base tunnel is authorised, detailed design would take five years and construction another 15 years. The cost could increase by¥12 billion if the tunnel were to be built with a cross-section large enough to permit the line to be upgraded to the full Shinkansen loading gauge.
This is the name for the concept of using a single train that is designed to travel on both1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge railway lines and the1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge used by Shinkansen train services in Japan. The trucks/bogies of the Gauge Change Train (GCT) allow the wheels to be unlocked from the axles, narrowed or widened as necessary, and then relocked. This allows a GCT to traverse both standard-gauge and narrow-gauge tracks without the expense of regauging lines.
Three test trains were constructed, with the second set having completed reliability trials on theYosan Line east ofMatsuyama (inShikoku) in September 2013. The third set was undertaking gauge changing trials atShin-Yatsushiro Station (onKyushu), commencing in 2014 for a proposed three-year period, however testing was suspended in December 2014 after accumulating approximating 33,000 km (21,000 mi), following the discovery of defective thrust bearing oil seals on the bogies.[104] The train was being trialled betweenKumamoto, travelling on the narrow-gauge line to Shin-Yatsushiro, where a gauge changer was installed, so the GCT could be trialled on the Shinkansen line toKagoshima. It was anticipated the train would travel approximately 600,000 km (370,000 mi) over the three-year trial.
A new "full standard" Shinkansen line was opened in 2022 from Takeo Onsen toNagasaki, with the Shin-Tosu – Takeo Onsen section of theNishi Kyushu Shinkansen remaining narrow gauge. GCTs were proposed to provide Shinkansen service from the line's opening, however with the GCT being cancelled, JR Kyushu announced it would provide an interim'relay' service.[52]
There are currently no further proposals for use of the GCT, nor any development work on it.
Compared with air transport, the Shinkansen has several advantages, including scheduling frequency and flexibility, punctual operation, comfortable seats, lower carbon emissions, and convenient city-centre terminals.
Shinkansen fares are generally competitive with domestic air fares. From a speed and convenience perspective, the Shinkansen's market share has surpassed that of air travel for journeys of less than 750 km (470 mi), while air and rail remain highly competitive with each other in the 800–900 km (500–560 mi) range and air has a higher market share for journeys of more than 1,000 km (620 mi).[105]
During snowy weather, the Shinkansen is known to face fewer delays compared to air travel due to snow. One study done in 2016 concluded that the Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Aomori had substantially fewer days with delays longer than 30 minutes compared to air travel.[77]
Tokyo – Nagoya (342 km; 213 mi), Tokyo – Sendai (325 km; 202 mi), Tokyo –Hanamaki (Morioka) (496 km; 308 mi), Tokyo – Niigata (300 km; 190 mi): There were air services between these cities, but they were withdrawn after Shinkansen services started. Shinkansen runs between these cities in about two hours or less.
Tokyo – Osaka (515 km; 320 mi): Shinkansen is dominant because of fast (2 hours 22 minutes) and frequent service (up to every 10 minutes byNozomi); however, air travel has a certain share (~20–30%).
Tokyo – Okayama (676 km; 420 mi), Tokyo – Hiroshima (821 km; 510 mi): Shinkansen is reported to have increased its market share from ~40% to ~60% over the last decade.[106] The Shinkansen takes about three to four hours and there areNozomi trains every 30 minutes, but airlines may provide cheaper fares, attracting price-conscious passengers.
Tokyo – Fukuoka (1,069 km; 664 mi): The Shinkansen takes about five hours on the fastestNozomi, and discount carriers have made air travel far cheaper, so most people choose air. Additionally, unlike many cities, there is very little convenience advantage for the location of the Shinkansen stations of the two cities asFukuoka Airport is located near the centralTenjin district, andFukuoka City SubwayLine 1 connects the Airport and Tenjin via Hakata Station andHaneda Airport is similarly conveniently located.
Osaka – Fukuoka (554 km; 344 mi): One of the most competitive sections. The Shinkansen takes about two and a half hours byNozomi orMizuho, and the JR WestHikari Rail Star or JR West/JR KyushuSakura trains operate twice an hour, taking about 2 hours and 40 minutes between the two cities. Again the location of the airports involved (Itami Airport in Osaka's case) helps with the popularity of air travel.
Tokyo – Aomori (675 km; 419 mi): The fastest Shinkansen service between these cities is 3 hours. JAL is reported to have reduced the size of planes servicing this route since the Shinkansen extension opened in 2010.[106]
Tokyo – Hokuriku (345 km; 214 mi): The fastest Shinkansen service between these areas is 21⁄2 hours. ANA is reported to have reduced the number of services from Tokyo to Kanazawa and Toyama from 6 to 4 per day since the Shinkansen extension opened in 2015. The share of passengers travelling this route by air is reported to have dropped from 40% to 10% in the same period.[91]
A0 Series Shinkansen power car which was used in Taiwan for testing is on display atTainan HSR station. This is one of only two Shinkansen on display in a museum outside of Japan. The700T Series, operated byTaiwan High Speed Rail, is the first operational Shinkansen type exported outside Japan. Based on the700 series, they were built byKawasaki Heavy Industries and are operated as 12-car sets. They first entered service in January 2007, with a maximum speed of 300 km/h (190 mph).
TheChina Railway CRH2 is based on theE2-1000 series design. The trains are built by CSR Sifang Loco & Rolling stocks corporation under a license purchased in 2004 from a consortium formed of Kawasaki Heavy Industries,Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, andHitachi. Trial services started in January 2007.
Hitachi continued to develop and build AT300 InterCity trains forrailway operators in the United Kingdom. Between 2014 and 2025, a further 182 AT300 InterCity sets have been delivered, and categorised as British Rail Class 800-810 sets.[109] These included eighty, 5 or 9 car, bi-modeClass 800 trains, forty two, 5 or 9 car, EMUClass 801, twenty four, 5 or 9 car, bi-modeClass 802, five, 5 car, EMUClass 803, thirteen, 5 car, bi-modeClass 805, ten, 7 car, EMUClass 807, and thirty three, 5 car, bi-modeClass 810.[111][112][better source needed]
In December 2015, India and Japan signed an agreement for the construction of India's first high speed rail linkconnecting Mumbai to Ahmedabad, the intention being to initially operate imported E5 Series Shinkansen sets on the line. To be funded primarily through Japanese soft loans, the link was expected to cost up to US$18.6 billion and operational by 2024.[113][114] The project has been delayed by several years, and forecast costs have risen. A tender for 24 modified E5 sets was issued in 2023, though the resulting offers were not taken up by India, who now desire E10 sets, for delivery in the 2030s.[115][116] The Japanese Government agreed to gift one end of life E3 and E5 sets in 2025, with delivery in 2026.[117]
In 2014, it was announced thatTexas Central Railway would build a ~300 mi (480 km) long line using the N700 series rolling stock.[118] The trains are proposed to operate at over 320 km/h (200 mph).[119]
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(December 2022)
Japan will provide Shinkansen technology for a high-speed rail link betweenBangkok andChiang Mai under an agreement reached with Thailand on 27 May 2015. Total project costs are estimated in excess of 1 trillion yen ($8.1 billion). Several hurdles remain, however, including securing the funding.[120]
In 2023, theHigh Speed Rail Authority was established by the Government. The Government committed AU$500 million to progress planning for a future high speed rail network – of this, AU$78.8 million was allocated to deliver the business case for the Sydney to Newcastle section, which is expected to be provided to the Government by the end of 2024.[122][123] Japan Railways Group and Hitachi attended an industry briefing on 27 August 2024.[124]
As part of the Ireland 2040 infrastructural upgrade scheme, a high-speed rail network using Shinkansen technology is being investigated along theCork-Dublin-Belfast axis, spanning the island of Ireland from north to south.[citation needed]
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(December 2022)
The U.S.Federal Railroad Administration was in talks with a number of countries concerning high-speed rail, notably Japan, France and Spain. On 16 May 2009, FRA Deputy Chief Karen Rae expressed hope that Japan would offer its technical expertise toCanada and theUnited States. Transportation SecretaryRay LaHood indicated interest in test riding the Japanese Shinkansen in 2009.[125][126]
On 1 June 2009,JR Central Chairman, Yoshiyuki Kasai, announced plans to export both theN700 Series Shinkansen high-speed train system and theSCMaglev to international export markets, including the United States and Canada.[127]
Vietnam Railways was considering the use of Shinkansen technology forhigh-speed rail between the capitalHanoi and the southern commercial hub ofHo Chi Minh City, according to theNihon Keizai Shimbun, citing an interview with Chief Executive Officer Nguyen Huu Bang. The Vietnamese government had already given basic approval for the Shinkansen system, although it still requires financing and formal consent from the prime minister. Vietnam rejected a funding proposal in 2010, so funding for the $56 billion project is uncertain. Hanoi was exploring additional Japanese fundingOfficial Development Assistance as well as funds from theWorld Bank andAsian Development Bank. The 1,560-kilometre (970 mi) line would replace the current colonial-era rail line.Vietnam hoped to launch high-speed trains by 2020 and planned to start by building three sections, including a 90 km (56 mi) stretch between the central coastal cities ofDa Nang andHuế, seen as potentially most profitable. Vietnam Railways had sent engineers toCentral Japan Railway Company for technical training.[132][133]
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