Shinkansen
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23629)
United Kingdom
July 23, 2025 4:44am CST
Shinkansen.
Japan is famous for the Shinkansen train otherwise known as the bullet train. They are specially designed to go very fast. They have special sensors on the train to stop it instantly if there are any tremors from the frequent earthquakes. The railway network covers most of Japan & on some busy routes there are around 16 trains per hour in both directions.
We were looking forward to trying out the Shinkansen train in Japan covering a distance that had taken 3 hours by bus in just 30 minutes with speeds up to 170mph. Some trains go even faster. Japan has been a world leader in high speed trains which is now being over taken by China who has improved their high speed network in more & more regions with speeds up to 240mph. For example it is now possible to go from Beijing to Shanghai in just over 4 hours.
The most exciting train I have used is a Maglev train in Shanghai. It covered a distance of 19 miles in 8 minutes at a top speed of 268mph. Using magnets to lift the train it enables the train to hover over the rails with no friction making the journey super fast.
We can travel from London to Paris in just over 2 hours by Eurostar service which goes under the English channel at high speed. I also like the TGV high speed trains on the French rail network.
Do you like high speed trains?
19 people like this
18 responses
@DaddyEvil (154605)
• United States
23 Jul
I've never been anywhere that had a high speed train. I have been on old-fashioned trains. I believe they're electric but designed to look like steam engines.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
We still have a few very old steam trains run by rail enthusiasts. There is a lovely miniature railway in Kent called the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch railway which still runs every day as the area is very rural. It takes kids to school & in summer tourists use it for the experience, It is great fun. It has been running since 1927 along the coast for 13 & a half miles.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (154605)
• United States
23 Jul
@garymarsh6 The trains I've ridden were in amusement parks here.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
Yes you don't get to see much as they go too fast.
1 person likes this
@youless (113507)
• Guangzhou, China
23 Jul
I think it's always good to have one more option besides airplane. The Shinkansen train is great but it's also quite expensive. It can cost more than taking a flight. Due to the high speed train, it's easier for us to take a trip out of our province and it's convenient.
1 person likes this
@youless (113507)
• Guangzhou, China
24 Jul
@garymarsh6 I am not sure, but here usually the airplane will be the most expensive, then high speed train and then normal train and coach.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
I thought the prices would have cost more.I found them pretty reasonable.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
19h
@youless There are a lot of low cost airlines these days as well as the national carriers who are always more expensive.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (150172)
• India
23 Jul
I have travelled by Euro Star from London to Belgium under the English. Strangely never felt there was water above us
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
It is very fast. You are only under the sea for 20 minutes. My father was involved with the construction of the tunnel he worked in the labs testing the quality of the concrete.
2 people like this
@allknowing (150172)
• India
23 Jul
@garymarsh6 20 minutes should be suficient to get a feel of the water
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
@allknowing You might be interested to know that leaks 20 litres per second per km. Pumps continuously pump the water out so you may have been nearer to the water than you imagined!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (54265)
• Canada
24 Jul
@garymarsh6 That is Canada's Sunshine Coast. We may travel out west to see the mountains.
Our first goal is to see the Atlantic coast.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
That would be a great trip. The Rockies are a great trip maybe one day? Never say never.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
@Juliaacv & give us a wave across the Atlantic!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (479834)
• Italy
23 Jul
@garymarsh6 - I think that here in old Europe workers should learn to treat their customers with much more respect. I do not pretend as much as in Japan, but at least a bit of respect.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
@LadyDuck I have always had polite interactions with staff even those in Italy & France.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
They are always on time. The amazing this is how you are treated in lovely comfortable seats. The staff bow at you & when the train arrives & depart the station staff bow to the train. The gaurds bow when they enter the carriage then as the leave they bow again!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (193333)
• United States
22h
Yes, I road that that Eurostar train once. In the US the Acela train that goes between New York and Washington DC is very fast too.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
19h
Eurostar is great. I have heard about the Acela train.
1 person likes this
@May2k8 (18686)
• Indonesia
24 Jul
@garymarsh6 very rarely people want to use high speed because the price is very expensive in Indonesia.
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
I understand the train system is quite good in Indonesia between major cities?
1 person likes this
@rakski (144396)
• Philippines
15h
@garymarsh6 oh wow!
They do not want to be left behind in technology for sure
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
The Chinese are very clever with their building programmes. A while ago they were opening a new airport every week!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (87259)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Jul
Nope and you would never get me on one, Imagine if there was an accident,
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
The Shinkansens have been running since 1964 with no fatal crashes. Because of the frequent tremors they have being on the ring of fire they are fitted with highly efficient sensors on board that will bring the trains to an instant stop. Their safety record is superb & unparrelleled which the same cannot be said of other countries.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
I love the TGV too they are so fast.
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (4344)
• Northampton, England
24 Jul
Slightly quicker than the Brackley to Newmarket race day shunter
1 person likes this
. Hope you are keeping well?
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
Our train maintenance usually happens at weekends when it is less busy.
1 person likes this
@Soobinah (75)
•
23 Jul
@garymarsh6 good for you, in our area they dont really make schedule of maintenance. They will do it without any announcement, if they feel they need to do it now, they will do it. that's why it is so hassle to some people.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (177434)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Jul
I have heard of this train. The picture is extraordinary. I have never been on a speed train.
@celticeagle (177434)
• Boise, Idaho
18h
@garymarsh6 ......That is a good thing. I wish Americans were more that way.
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul
The Japanese are very disciplined & everyone waits their turn in line.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (48244)
• India
23 Jul
Here, we have Superfast, Express and Vande Bharat trains as the fastest.
The fastest I have traveled in clocked around 150 Kmph but for one of the stretches.
India is working on Bullet trains, interestingly aided a lot by Japan on one of the western India stretch ( Ahmedabad to Mumbai).
I have heard a lot about Shinkasen and yes, China too has progressed a lot in its train technology.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
It would be great to get super fast trains in India to link up major cities. We have never travelled by train in India.
@Tampa_girl7 (52963)
• United States
23 Jul
I haven’t been on a train in years and it wasn’t a high speed one.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul
I used to go by train to London sometimes our trains are horrible compared to some other countries. We do have a high speed train that goes to London but the costs are too expensive. The normal train takes an hour because it stops at every station & the high speed only stops twice & takes 20 minutes.
@garymarsh6 (23629)
• United Kingdom
19h
@Kandae11 The Shinkansen have a superb safety record.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (56701)
•
24 Jul
@garymarsh6 Yes l have. Talking specifically about trains or cars...
1 person likes this
