Knowra Shinkansen Shinkansen Japan’s high-speed railway network and the trains that run on it. Its dedicated lines and operating practices support frequent, fast intercity service.
Standard gauge : A railway track gauge measuring 1,435 millimetres between the inner rail faces. Shinkansen lines use standard gauge, unlike much of Japan’s older narrow-gauge network.
Tōkaidō Shinkansen : The Shinkansen line connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. Opened in 1964, it was the first line in the Shinkansen network.
Tōhoku Shinkansen : A Shinkansen line running north from Tokyo through northeastern Honshu to Shin-Aomori. It extends high-speed service from Tokyo toward the Tōhoku region.
High-speed rail : Passenger railway service operating at substantially higher speeds than conventional rail, usually on purpose-built infrastructure. Shinkansen is a foundational national example of high-speed rail.
Cape gauge : A railway track gauge measuring 1,067 millimetres between the inner rail faces. Most conventional Japanese railways use Cape gauge, unlike Shinkansen’s standard-gauge lines.
Automatic train control : A railway safety system that controls train speed and can enforce braking when needed. Shinkansen trains rely on continuous speed control rather than lineside signals viewed by drivers.
Hideo Shima : A Japanese railway engineer who led the design of the original Shinkansen train and helped develop its system. Shima’s engineering leadership helped turn the first Shinkansen into an operating railway.
Sanyō Shinkansen : A Shinkansen line connecting Shin-Osaka with Hakata in northern Kyushu. It carries the high-speed corridor west of Osaka toward Fukuoka.
Railway safety : The engineering, operating, and regulatory practices used to prevent railway accidents and limit their harm. Shinkansen’s safety record is closely associated with dedicated tracks and controlled operations.
Conventional rail in Japan : Japan’s non-Shinkansen railway network, much of which uses narrow-gauge track. The contrast highlights Shinkansen’s separate infrastructure and higher-speed design.
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