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Shinkansen

Page history last edited by Jason Fountain 15 years, 1 month ago

SHINKANSEN

photo by:David Sulock 2006

The Shinkansen was orginally built to connect the urban areas of Japan for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

First segment of construction (between Tokyo and Osaka) started in 1959.

When the Tōkaidō Shinkansen first opened in 1964 it was running at 210 km/h (130 mph).

Train categories:

Local (kakueki-teisha or futsu-densha)

Local trains stop at every station.

Rapid (kaisoku)

Rapid trains skip some stations. There is no difference in the ticket price between local and rapid trains.

Express (kyuko)

Express trains (kyuko) stop at even fewer stations than rapid trains (kaisoku). In case of JR (Japan Railways), an express fee has to be paid in addition to the base fare.

Limited Express (tokkyu)

Limited express trains stop only at major stations. A limited express fee has to be paid in addition to the base fare. It is typically between 500 and 4,000 Yen. In case of some non-JR railway companies, no "limited express fee" has to be paid.

Super Express(shinkansen)

Shinkansen (bullet trains) are only operated by JR (Japan Railways). Shinkansen use separate tracks and platforms. A limited express fee has to be paid in addition to the base fare. It is typically between 800 and 8000 Yen.

photo by :David Sulock 2006

Types of Shinkansen

(Tokaido/Sanyo Line)

Nozomi: The fastest trains running on the routes stop only at the major stations. (introduced in 1992)

300 km/h (186 mph). The only shinkansen not covered by the Japan rail pass.

Hikari: The second fastest trains running on the shinkansen lines. Stop at a few more stations than Nozomi trains.

Kodama: The slowest trains running on the routes stop at every station.

More types of SHINKANSEN

The Shinkansen network covers over 2,400 km (1,461 miles).

Japan Railways (JR), operates 26,000 trains daily on average.

About 800,000 people take them daily.

The conductors are made up of an all male staff that check tickets.

Female attendants sell food and drinks from trolleys.

Platform attendants.

photo by: David Sulock 2006

Although most trains are electric and about 15 cars long, there are still a few one car trains that run on diesel and serve smaller communities.

What's so great about the Shinkansen experience?

- clean

- polite staff

- smooth ride

- big windows for your viewing pleasure

- very efficient, always on time

-super fast! weeeee

-spacious and comfortable, plenty of leg room (even enough room for sleepy Sumo wrestlers)

The fastest shinkansen service covers the distance between Kyoto and Tokyo in under three hours.

You can also Eat while you ride!!

photo by: David Sulock 2006

The only accident with the Shinkansen was due to the Chūetsu Earthquake on October 23, 2004, when the Toki train derailed near Nagaoka Station. No casualities out of 154 passengers.

In the event of an earthquake, an earthquake detection system can bring the train to a stop very quickly. Experimental Fastech 360 trains have ear-like air resistance braking flaps to assist emergency stops at high speeds. The only casualties or injuries related to the Shinkansen have been due to people getting closed in the doors or committing sucide by jumping off of or in front of trains.

Perhaps these are a few reasons why there are platform attendants.