60 years of the “bullet train” that rebuilt Japan – Observer

60 years ago, the Shinkansen, Japan’s famous “bullet train”, was born, a project that redefined rail travel, but also the very image of the country that was recovering after the defeat in the Second World War.

A step forward into the future. At six in the morning on the first day of October 1964, crowds gathered to see two trains departing simultaneously from Tokyo and Osaka, in the debut of “Japan’s magic bullet”, which drastically reduced the travel time between the cities. two cities.

The black and white images show men, women and children in elegant clothes, enchanted by the great historical event. In the carriages there were passengers experiencing for the first time an impressive speed for the time. Instead of the nearly seven hours previously required to travel the 200 miles between the two cities, the journey could now be completed in just four hours.

Japan introduces bullet train that reaches 382 kilometers per hour https://t.co/EZEjOcv9U5 pic.twitter.com/ndFEAOXBR8

— Márcio M. Silva (@marciojmsilva) October 28, 2020

For many Japanese, that experience represented much more than a technological innovation — it was a milestone on the path to modernization and the construction of a new national identity.

These new trains and the start of the Tokyo Olympic Games were one of the greatest symbols of Japan’s post-war economic, technological and democratic resurgence. “The inauguration of the Tokaido Shinkansen and the 1964 Olympic Games intertwine in a powerful symbolic message to the world: Japan is back. But Japan is not only back, it is ready to be a world leader”, said Christopher Hood, reader of Japanese studies at Cardiff University and author of Shinkansen: From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japanno The Guardian.

The Shinkansen’s arrival symbolized Japan’s emergence as a global force. Once criticized and victim of protests, for being seen as an extravagant expense in an era of increasing mobility via highways and air travel, the “bullet train”, so called for the speed it reaches, quickly became a symbol of efficiency, technology and progress. The network expanded and created connections with the main islands of the archipelago in order to meet the needs of millions of passengers.

Japan’s bullet trains can go up to 200mph when traveling between Tokyo and Hakodate pic.twitter.com/wbJ4vc4Z2p

— Mark Tomasovic (@MarkTomasovic) December 22, 2021

This train redefines the concept of high-speed public transport. Six decades later, the Shinkansen continues to be an example of innovation at a national level, but above all at a global level. Travel time between Tokyo and Osaka has been reduced to 2 hours and 22 minutes — at a top speed of over 286 kilometers per hour — and punctuality is remarkable, with average delays of less than a minute. This speed and precision of timetables contrasts with the failures observed in many railway systems around the world.

The view from the Tokyo-Nagoya Shinkansen. It starts out urban, then there are several mountains covered in green, more cities, more green, this Lake Hamana, urban scenery again, and we arrived. The train covers 350km in 100 minutes. pic.twitter.com/Hw4uBsbLiV

— Julianne Cerasoli (@jucerasoli) October 5, 2022

Until today, more than 6.4 billion passengers were transported without a single death caused by accidents or technical problems. This reveals an impressive feat of railway engineering and operations.

The Shinkansen’s success is not just restricted to operational efficiency, it is also characterized as a cultural icon of Japan and reflects the pride that the nation feels in its progress. “This is a country that really loves its trains,” said Mark Schreiber, to The Guardian.

Schreiber, a longtime resident of Japan who traveled with his brother and parents from Tokyo to Kyoto when he was 18 in the first year of the train’s operation, remembers being “excited” and wrote: “The journey was so smooth that the only sensation of speed was watching the landscape pass by”in a Japanese magazine celebrating the train’s 25th anniversary.

In addition, the Japanese train also came to economically revitalize the regions it passes through, and enable an expansion of business and tourism opportunities in smaller cities — which often ended up being left out — and which are now more connected with cities. large metropolises.

Welcome aboard the #HelloKittyShinkansen! ????

This unique JR 500 series runs a daily return trip in west Japan, and I’m riding it all the way to Hakata! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/wayFWUnALQ

— Superalbs (@superalbs) May 7, 2023

The expansion of the network over the years has helped transform Japan into one of the global leaders in rail technology, with conglomerates such as Hitachi and Toshiba exporting their expertise to other countries. Currently, high-speed train networks inspired by the Shinkansen have spread worldwide, for example, in France, China, and more recently, the United States of America and India.

The Shinkansen’s impact transcended Japan’s borders, influencing rail systems around the world. Countries like France, with the TGV, and China, which now has the largest high-speed train network on the planet, followed the Japanese example by incorporating high technology and efficiency into rail transport.

No matter how many times you’ve had the chance to see it, there’s something special about Japan’s Shinkansen (bullet train) that always amazes. There will be faster trains but this one has an unmatched charm. #EnJaponConSuzuki pic.twitter.com/3QFdPl9aOE

— Gabo Salazar (@gabosalazar21) October 26, 2019

These days, China stands out with 18,000 miles of high-speed lines and thus surpasses even Japan in terms of length and number of passengers. However, the Shinkansen’s safety and reliability are second to none.

But although the train offers a comfortable and ecologically sustainable experience, this model is starting to become outdated, and thus faces the challenge of market attractiveness and competitiveness, in which airlines are gaining more and more space.

A new generation of trains is being prepared. Based on magnetic levitation technology, it promises speeds of over 480 km/h, but it is not yet known when it will be operational.

Initially scheduled for 2027, this train model, like the Chuo Shinkansen, — which will connect Tokyo to Nagoya in just 40 minutes — has faced significant obstacles. Delays due to the complexity of the project, problems with the soil along the route, and environmental concerns have raised doubts about the future of these ultrafast trains. Entry into full operation is not expected before 2034.