Shinkansen

Shinkansen was the king of Japan’s transportation. With very high speed, reached 240-300 km/hour, shinkansen become the number one rival of air transportation. Shinkansen station were in centre of the city, make it reachable and practice. Today, there were 7 railway of Shinkansen in Japan, those are Tokaido Shinkansen (to Osaka), Sanyou Shinkansen (to Hiroshima, Hakata), Tohoku Shinkansen (to Sendai, Morioka), Joetsu Shinkansen (to Niigata), Yamagata Shinkansen (to Yamagata), Akita Shinkansen (to Akita), and Nagano Shinkansen (to Nagano).

The first railway was Tokaido Shinkansen, from Tokyo to Osaka. Both of it were the most higher growth city until today.

Shinkansen was developed by JR (Japan Railway) to serve people needs, that is faster and more practice transportation from Tokyo to Osaka. But, because of geography condition, especially mountainous way between Tokyo and Osaka, and population density make some problems in Shinkansen development, like how to stop in emergency, in order to not make a noise, and in order to make passenger safe and comfort.

The first Shinkansen development step was in motor technology and body design. To improve Shinkansen safety, shinkansen railway was made with wide 1435 mm – wider than original railway – and straight. In maximal speed, Shinkansen can’t stop in emergency. For example, in 200 km/hour speed, distance need until breaking distance was 2.5 km, while Tokaido Line – original train – need 600 m. This problem made JR engineer must work harder to made better break.And then, there was a bright idea, that is made the railway system free obstruction and made breaking system with using motor twist movement. That’s why Shinkansen railway made in highway system and tall fence.

Shinkansen development started with Shinkansen 0 series named “Hikari”. And then, Shinkanse 100 series Hikari, 300 series Nozomi, 400 series Tsubasa, 500 series Nozomi, E1 series Max, E2 series Asama, E3 series Komachi, etc were born. These shinkansen adapted with geography condition in its operation area. For example, in Tohoku area that is also snowy in winter and many bends in road, so that the railway made in order to make snow doesn’t stack, and there is ‘snow broom’ in front of the shinkansen.

Beside Japan, EuropeJapan, because in Europe, there are many unused land and few mountain. countries also active in developing fastest train, like TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) in France and ICE (Inter-City Express) on German. Development fastest train in Europe easier than in