## 2 Constructing Arterial Railway Networks

## (1) Constructing Shinkansen railways

A rapid transit system of vital value to Japan, Shinkansen [bullet train] Lines significantly cut the time spent moving from region to region and help greatly boost regional activities and rejuvenate local economies. Shinkansen Lines feature safety (no record of passenger death accidents since opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen Line in 1964) and eco-friendliness (the railway $ CO_{2} $ emissions per unit of energy (g- $ CO_{2} $ /passenger-kilometer being one fifth of aircraft and one eighth of automobiles). As New Shinkansen Lines Note, the Tohoku Shinkansen Line (between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori) opened in December 2010 and the Kagoshima Route (between Hakata and Shin-Yatsushiro) of Kyushyu Shinkansen opened in March 2011. The construction of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line (between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate (provisional name)) and the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line (between Nagano and Kanazawa) is in steady progress to near completion and inauguration as scheduled.

Pending plans to launch the construction of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line (between Shin-Hakodate (provisional name) and Sapporo), the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line (between Kanazawa and Tsuruga) and the Nagasaki Route (between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki) of Kyushu Shinkansen were authorized on June 29, 2012 after due procedures in accordance with "Handling of New Shinkansen" (a matter confirmed between the government and ruling parties on December 26, 2011) since all the requirements for the commencement of the works were fulfilled.

The Transport Policy Council, which had debated Chuo Shinkansen since March 2010, came up with recommendations in May 2011 to affirm the appropriateness of Central Japan Railway Company as an entity of its operation and construction, the superconducting maglev method of train operation and the Southern Alps of Japan route. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism responded to name Central Japan Railway Company as an entity of operation and construction for Chuo Shinkansen in accordance with the National Shinkansen Railway Development Act, and decided on the Development Plan and directed Central Japan Railway Company to embark on construction. Central Japan Railway Company expects to open its Shinkansen railways between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027 and between Nagoya and Osaka in 2045. Procedural actions pursuant to the Environmental Effect Assessment Act are underway with regard to the railway between Tokyo and Nagoya.

## (2) Driving technical development

### a. Superconducting maglev trains

Running tests for superconducting maglev trains which had been carried out on the Yamanashi Test Line since 1997. The Superconducting Magnetic Levitation Technological Practicality Evaluation Committee that met in July 2009 concluded that the “development of the technologies prerequisite to driving superconducting maglev trains to the stage of practical usefulness, including their operation as super-fast mass transit system, are in sight. Since August 2013, a running test has been in progress on the entire Yamanashi Test Line to make a final verification of the practical specifications of