Shinkansen

A lineup of JR East Shinkansen sets in May 2023

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

Opening ceremony of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen on 1 October 1964

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 set Past: 16 cars per set	Kodama Past: 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 West Past: JR Central	1997 – 2006	13 March 1999	E1 – E16	8 cars per set Past: 16 cars per set	Hikari Rail Star, Kodama Past: 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 – G25 JR West: F1 – F24, K1 – K16 JR Kyushu: S1 – S19, R1 – R11	JR Central/West: 16 cars per set JR Kyushu: 8 cars per set	JR Central/West: Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama JR 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 – J59 JR West: H1 – H4 JR Kyushu: Y1 – Y4	JR Central/West: 16 cars per set JR Kyushu: 6 cars per set	JR Central/West: Nozomi JR 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 set Past: 8 cars per set	Yamabiko, Nasuno Past: 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 set Past: 5 or 6 cars per set	Tsubasa Past: 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 set Past: 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 line logomark

JR East Shinkansen line logomark

JR West Shinkansen line logomark

JR Kyushu Shinkansen line logomark

JR Hokkaido Shinkansen line logomark

References

• Book: The Complete Book of Locomotives By Colin Garratt, published by Herms House. ISBN: 978-1-84477-022-9.