Shinkansen

The Shinkansen is a high-speed rail network in Japan. Initially built to connect distant regions within Japan with Tokyo, the capital, the Shinkansen network has since expanded to 2,830.6 km (1,758.9 mi) of main lines with maximum speeds of 210 – 320 km/h (130 – 199 mph), 283.5 km (176.2 mi) of mini-Shinkansen track with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and 10.3 km (6.4 mi) of spur lines. The network is owned by the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency, covers most major cities on the islands of Honshu and Kyushu and Hakodate in Hokkaido and is operated by five branches of the Japan Railways Group. The network was initially operated by the Japanese National Railways, the predecessor company of what is now the Japan Railways Group.
==Etymology==
"Shinkansen" literally translates to "new branch line" or "new trunk line"; this word is currently used to refer to both the lines and the trains themselves. In English, the trains are often colloquially referred to as bullet trains due to their resemblance to a bullet and their high speeds; the term "bullet train" actually predates the Shinkansen network, being a literal translation of the Japanese term dangan ressha, referring to early high-speed rail projects undertaken by the JNR from around 1939. Officially, the service is referred to as "Superexpress" in announcements although the Shinkansen name is used on signage in stations. 
==History==
Prior to the opening of the Shinkansen, Japan had dabbled in the construction of what was known as the dangan ressha project around 1939, designing steam locomotives which would supposedly be capable of high speeds as part of what would be known as the Greater East Asian Railroad. The onset of World War II meant that these plans would ultimately not come to fruition, although some segments of the planned railway network would ultimately be built. These lines would use 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) track to allow for higher speeds than what was possible on narrow gauge track mostly used throughout Japan.
Two individuals who the development of the Shinkansen can be attributed to are Hideo Shima and Shinji Sogō. Shima was JNR's chief engineer and the director of the rolling stock department in the past, while Sogō was the JNR's president; both convinced politicians to back the plan. Other significant people responsible were three engineers at the Railway Technology Research Institute, the JNR's research and development department; these engineers were Tadanao Miki, Tadashi Matsudaira and Hajime Kawanabe. All three were pivotal in the development of the first line, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and had worked on aircraft designs during World War II; Miki is credited for the design of the original Shinkansen sets.
After World War II, high-speed rail was largely pushed to the wayside while passenger and freight traffic on the Tōkaidō Main Line steadily increased; by the mid-1950s the line was at capacity and the project was revisited. In 1957, the Odakyu Electric Railway introduced their 3000 series Romancecar model, setting a world speed record of 145 km/h (90 mph) for a narrow gauge train; seeing this, Shima was struck with inspiration and became convinced that a standard gauge train with the capability of being even faster than what was recently observed was possible. Despite the Japanese national attitude at the time believing that railways would soon be obsoleted by air travel and highways as in other countries such as the United States and Europe, Sogō insisted strongly on the prospects of high-speed rail and thus the project commenced.
Government approval for the project came in 1958, with construction of the first segment of the first line, the Tōkaidõ Shinkansen, commenced in April 1959 between Tokyo and Osaka. The cost for construction was initially estimated at ¥200b, raised in the form of government loans, railway bonds and a low-interest loan of US$80m from the World Bank; this estimate would later prove to be deliberately understated, with actual construction costs coming to around ¥400b instead. With budget shortfalls becoming clear, Sogō resigned from his position in 1963, taking responsibility for his actions; he was replaced by Reisuke Ishida.
By 1962, a 32 km (20 mi) section of track known as the "Kamonomiya model track" was constructed between Ayase and Odawara and test rolling stock manufactured for testing on the section of track. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen was completed in 1964 and began service on 1 October 1964, with 12-car Shinkansen set H2 pulling the first Hikari service bound for Shin-Osaka at 6:00 am JST. In service in time for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the service cut down the time of trip between both major cities from about 6 hours and 40 minutes to about 4 hours; this was cut down further to about 3 hours and 10 minutes by the next year. An immediate success, the 100 millionth passenger mark was reached by the service on 13 July 1967 and the 1 billionth passenger rode on the service in 1976.
The resounding success of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen prompted a westward expansion of the line, now known as the San'yō Shinkansen; it connected Okayama, Hiroshima and Fukuoka and was completed in 1975. Prime minister Kakuei Tanaka was one of the Shinkansen's most ardent supporters, his government proposing an extensive network of Shinkansen lines paralleling most major main lines; two lines, the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen, both opened in 1982, would be built as part of this plan. However, many of these planned lines, such as the Narita Shinkansen, would end up being delayed or canceled entirely due to their costs; the high costs caused the JNR to incur significant debts. By the 1980s, the JNR was practically insolvent, with a decision being made to privatize the company; the JNR was privatized on 1 April 1987, splitting into seven successor companies, of which three would inherit the Shinkansen network.
Today, the Shinkansen network consists of eight main lines operated by five companies, two mini-Shinkansen lines and two spur lines; one line is under construction and two lines have extensions under construction. Additional phases for three lines are in the planning stage.
==Network==
The Shinkansen network currently consists of eight main lines operated by five of JR's divisions; JR Central operates the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, JR East the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen, JR West the San'yō Shinkansen, JR Kyushu the Kyushu and Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen and JR Hokkaido the Hokkaido Shinkansen; JR East and West jointly operate the Hokuriku Shinkansen (initially known as the Nagano Shinkansen until circa 2015). Two further lines, the Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen, are mini-Shinkansen lines, created by upgrading and regauging existing sections of track; both are operated by JR East. Two spur lines also exist, using Shinkansen rolling stock but are not operated at high speeds; these are JR West's Hakata-Minami Line and JR East's Gala-Yuzawa Line, the latter of which is a seasonal line only operating during the winter ski season. These lines use Shinkansen rolling stock as they feature tracks running towards maintenance depots or yards.
Initially intended to carry both passenger and freight trains, Shinkansen trains only carry passengers. Between midnight and 6:00 am every day, the network shuts down for maintenance; during this time, experimental non-revenue trains may also be found running. Three types of services exist: express services, the fastest services only stopping at major stations, semi-express services which stop at all major stations as well as some smaller stops and the local services which stop at all stops. Each service is given a name and number (e.g. Toki 307); on some occasions a name from a previous JNR limited express service is reused for a Shinkansen service. All Shinkansen services are covered under the Japan Rail Pass (a type of discount ticket for large-scale rail travel) with the exception of the Nozomi and Mizuho services, where a special ticket is required to ride on these services on top of the fee for the rail pass.
Shinkansen rails never intersect with slower, older conventional lines, with the exception of mini-Shinkansen lines which run along these older lines; there are also no freight trains running along these lines and are grade separated from roads and highways (i.e. no grade crossings), with tunnels and viaducts used to go over or through obstacles, allowing Shinkansen trains to run punctually. Continuous welded rails and swingnose crossing points are used on the network to eliminate gaps between turnouts and crossings; long rails are used, joined by expansion joints to minimize any gauge fluctuation due to thermal elongation or shrinkage. Ballasted and slab track is used on the network, with the slab tracks using rails and fasteners with a cement asphalt mortar and employed on sections with concrete beds like viaducts and tunnels. The entire signal system for the Shinkansen is computerized, using an automatic train control system; centralized traffic control manages all operations. To overcome the limitations of DC current on most lines, the Shinkansen network uses a 25 kV AC power system.
All Shinkansen trains are electric multiple units ranging from seven to sixteen cars long; the longest trains are around 400 m (0.25 mi) long, with platforms made similarly long to allow for train lengths. Shinkansen sets are also built to a larger loading gauge than other Japanese rolling stock and feature faster acceleration and braking when compared to other types of Japanese rolling stock.
===Service names===
The translation of the service name (if available), type of service and operators are in brackets.
;Tōkaidō, San'yō and Kyushu Shinkansen
*Nozomi ("hope", express, Central/West)
*Hikari/Hikari Rail Star ("light", semi-express, Central/West)
*Kodama ("echo", local, Central/West)
*Mizuho ("harvest", express, West/Kyushu)
*Sakura ("cherry blossom", semi-express, West/Kyushu)
*Tsubame ("swallow", local, Kyushu)
;Tōhoku, Hokkaido, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen
*Hayabusa ("peregrine falcon", express, East/Hokkaido)
*Hayate ("gale", local, East/Hokkaido)
*Yamabiko ("mountainous echo", semi-express, East)
*Nasuno (local, East)
*Aoba (semi-express, East, discontinued)
*Komachi ("beauty", Mini, East)
*Tsubasa ("wing", Mini, East)
;Jōetsu Shinkansen
*Toki ("crane", semi-express, East)
*Tanigawa (local, East)
*Asahi ("morning sun", semi-express, East, discontinued)
;Hokuriku Shinkansen
*Kagayaki ("radiance", express, East/West)
*Hakutaka ("white hawk", semi-express, East/West)
*Tsurugi ("sword", local, East/West)
*Asama (local, East/West)
;Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen
*Kamome ("seagull", local, Kyushu)
==Rolling stock==
===Current===
Image	Name 	Manufacturer(s) 	Operators 	Build date 	Entered service	Fleet numbers 	Train length 	Services used 	Top speed
 	500 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo 	JR West 	1995 – 1998 	22 March 1997 	W1, V2 – V9 	8 cars per setPast: 16 cars per set 	KodamaPast: Hikari, Nozomi 	300 km/h (186 mph)By design: 320 km/h (199 mph)
 	700 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo 	JR WestPast: JR Central 	1997 – 2006 	13 March 1999 	E1 – E16 	8 cars per setPast: 16 cars per set 	Hikari Rail Star, KodamaPast: Hikari, Nozomi 	285 km/h (177 mph)
 	N700 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo 	JR Central, JR West, JR Kyushu	2005 – 2020 	1 July 2007 	JR Central: X0 – X80, G1 – G25JR West: F1 – F24, K1 – K16JR Kyushu: S1 – S19, R1 – R11	JR Central/West: 16 cars per setJR Kyushu: 8 cars per set	JR Central/West: Nozomi, Hikari, KodamaJR Kyushu: Mizuho, Sakura, Tsubame	300 km/h (186 mph)Speed record: 332 km/h (206 mph)
 	N700S Series Shinkansen	Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo 	JR Central, JR West, JR Kyushu	2018, 2020 – Present	1 July 2020 	JR Central: J0 – J59JR West: H1 – H4JR Kyushu: Y1 – Y4 	JR Central/West: 16 cars per setJR Kyushu: 6 cars per set	JR Central/West: NozomiJR Kyushu: Kamome 	300 km/h (186 mph)Speed record: 363 km/h (226 mph)
 	800 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi 	JR Kyushu 	2003 – 2010 	12 March 2004 	U001 – U009 	6 cars per set 	Sakura, Tsubame 	260 km/h (162 mph)By design: 285 km/h (177 mph)
 	E2 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation	JR East 	1995 – 2010 	22 March 1997 	N1 – N13, N21, J2 – J15, J51 – J75 	10 cars per setPast: 8 cars per set 	Yamabiko, NasunoPast: Asahi, Toki, Asama, Hayate, Tanigawa 	275 km/h (171 mph)Speed record: 362 km/h (225 mph)
 	E3 Series Shinkansen 	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation 	JR East 	1995 – 2009 	22 March 1997 	R1 – R26, L51 – L55, L61 – L72 	7 cars per setPast: 5 or 6 cars per set 	TsubasaPast: Komachi, Toreiyu Tsubasa, Genbi Shinkansen 	275 km/h (171 mph)
 	E5 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	2009 – Present 	5 March 2011 	U1 – U59 	10 cars per set 	Hayabusa, Hayate, Yamabiko, Nasuno 	320 km/h (199 mph)
 	E6 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	2010 – 2014 	16 March 2013 	Z1 – Z24 	7 cars per set 	Komachi 	320 km/h (199 mph)
 	E7 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, J-TREC, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	2013 – Present 	15 March 2014 	F1 – F47 	12 cars per set 	Kagayaki, Hakutaka, Tsurugi, Asama, Toki, Tanigawa 	275 km/h (171 mph)
 	E8 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, J-TREC, Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing 	JR East 	2022 – Present 	16 March 2024 	G1 – G15 	7 cars per set 	Tsubasa 	300 km/h (186 mph)
 	H5 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR Hokkaido 	2014 – 2015 	26 March 2016 	H1 – H4 	10 cars per set 	Hayabusa, Hayate, Yamabiko, Nasuno 	320 km/h (199 mph)
 	W7 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo 	JR West 	2014 – Present 	14 March 2015 	W1 – W14, W17 – W22, W24 	12 cars per set 	Kagayaki, Hakutaka, Tsurugi, Asama 	275 km/h (171 mph)
===Withdrawn===
Image	Name 	Manufacturer(s) 	Operators 	Build date 	Entered service 	Withdrawn from service	Fleet numbers 	Train length 	Services used 	Top speed
 	0 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Sharyō, Kinki Sharyo, Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation	JNR, JR Central, JR West	1964 – 1986	1 October 1964 	14 December 2008 	Various 	4, 6, 8, 12 or 16 cars per set 	Hikari, Kodama 	220 km/h (137 mph)
 	100 Series Shinkansen	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation 	JNR, JR Central, JR West	1984 – 1991	1 October 1985 	16 March 2012 	X1 – X7, G1 – G50, V1 – V9, K51 – K60, P1 – P12	4, 6, 8, 12 or 16 cars per set 	Hikari, Kodama 	230 km/h (143 mph)
 	200 Series Shinkansen	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation 	JNR, JR East 	1980 – 1991	23 June 1982 	14 April 2013 	Various 	8, 10, 12, 13 or 16 cars per set 	Asahi, Aoba, Toki, Yamabiko, Asama, Nasuno, Tanigawa	240 km/h (143 mph)Some sets: 275 km/h (171 mph)
 	300 Series Shinkansen	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo 	JR Central, JR West 	1990 – 1998	14 March 1992 	16 March 2012 	J1 – J61, F1 – F9 	16 cars per set 	Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama 	270 km/h (168 mph)Speed record: 325.7 km/h (202.4 mph)
 	400 Series Shinkansen	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation 	JR East 	1992 – 1995	1 July 1992 	18 April 2010 	L1 – L12 	7 cars per setPast: 6 cars per set	Tsubasa 	240 km/h (143 mph)Speed record: 345 km/h (214 mph)
 	E1 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	1994 – 1995	15 July 1994 	28 October 2012 	M1 – M6 	12 cars per set 	Asahi, Toki, Yamabiko, Aoba, Nasuno, Tanigawa 	240 km/h (143 mph)
 	E4 Series Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	1997 – 2003	20 December 1997	17 October 2021 	P1 – P22, P51 – P52, P81 – P82 	8 cars per set 	Asahi, Toki, Yamabiko, Nasuno, Tanigawa 	240 km/h (143 mph)
===Future===
Image	Name 	Manufacturer(s) 	Operators 	Build date 	Entering service	Fleet numbers	Train length 	Services used	Top speed
 	L0 Series Shinkansen	Hitachi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo	JR Central	2011 – 2012, 2020	Unknown 	Unknown 	16 cars per set	Unknown 	505 km/h (314 mph)Speed record: 603 km/h (375 mph)
===Non-revenue===
Image	Name 	Manufacturer(s) 	Operators 	Build date 	Entered service 	Withdrawn from service	Fleet numbers	Train length 	Official name 	Top speed/speed record(s), if any
 	Class 1000 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Sharyō, Kinki Sharyo, Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyo 	JNR 	1961 – 1962 	26 June 1962 	15 August 1975 	A – B 	2 or 4 cars per set	None 	256 km/h (159 mph)
 	Class 951 Shinkansen 	Kawasaki Sharyō, Nippon Sharyo 	JNR 	1969 	2 July 1969 	11 April 1990 	None 	2 cars per set 	None 	286 km/h (178 mph)
 	Class 961 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo 	JNR 	1973 	17 July 1973 	10 August 1990 	S3 	6 cars per set 	None 	319 km/h (198 mph)
 	Class 962 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo 	JNR 	1979 	22 February 1979	January 1983 	None 	6 cars per set 	None 	210 km/h (130 mph)
 	Class 922 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Sharyō, Kinki Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation 	JNR, JR Central, JR West	1964, 1974, 1979	July 1964 	September 2005 	T1 – T3 	4 or 7 cars per set	Doctor Yellow 	T1: 200 km/h (124 mph)T2/T3: 210 km/h (130 mph)
 	Class 923 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo 	JR Central, JR West 	2000, 2005 	October 2000 	Active 	T4 – T5 	7 cars per set 	Doctor Yellow 	270 km/h (168 mph)
 	Class 925 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation	JNR, JR East 	1979 	November 1979 	25 September 2002 	S1 – S2 	7 cars per set 	Doctor Yellow 	275 km/h (171 mph)
 	Class 941 Shinkansen 	Kisha Seizō, Nippon Sharyo 	JNR 	1961 	Never used 	N/A 	None 	2 cars per set 	"Emergency relief train"	N/A
 	E926 Series Shinkansen 	Tokyu Car Corporation 	JR East 	2001 	2001 	Active 	S51 	6 cars per set 	East i 	275 km/h (171 mph)
 	500-900 Series Shinkansen	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR West 	1992 	8 June 1992 	25 May 1996 	W0 	6 cars per set 	WIN350 	350.4 km/h (217.7 mph)
 	Class 952/953 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo 	JR East 	1992 	27 March 1992 	17 February 1998 	S5 	9 cars per set 	STAR21 	425 km/h (264 mph)
 	Class 955 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo 	JR Central 	1994 	25 May 1995 	1 February 2002 	A0 	6 cars per set 	300X 	443 km/h (275 mph)
 	Class E954 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	2005 	25 June 2005 	7 September 2009 	S9 	8 cars per set 	Fastech 360S 	360 km/h (224 mph)By design: 405 km/h (252 mph)
 	Class E955 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	2006 	March 2006 	October 2008 	S10 	6 cars per set 	Fastech 360Z 	By design: 405 km/h (252 mph)
 	Class E956 Shinkansen 	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries 	JR East 	2018 – 2019 	9 May 2019 	Active 	S13 	10 cars per set 	ALFA-X 	382 km/h (237 mph)By design: 405 km/h (252 mph)
==Gallery==
JR Central Shinkansen.png|JR Central Shinkansen line logomark
JR East Shinkansen.png|JR East Shinkansen line logomark
JR West Shinkansen.png|JR West Shinkansen line logomark
JR Kyushu Shinkansen.png|JR Kyushu Shinkansen line logomark
JR Hokkaido Shinkansen.png|JR Hokkaido Shinkansen line logomark
==References==
*Book: The Complete Book of Locomotives By Colin Garratt, published by Herms House. .
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Locomotives
Category:Passenger locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Locomotives featured in media