THE CURRENT SHINKANSEN NETWORK AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

The Shinkansen was inaugurated in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympics and 28 years later has exceeded all traffic estimates. Three further lines have been added and have been so successful that numerous regions are requesting similar systems. Privatisation of the Japanese National Railways in 1987 resulted in 4 private companies less interested in high-speed rail. Details are given of funding arrangements introduced to enable the high-speed rail programme to go ahead. Details are given of the research being carried out into a new generation of Shinkansen trains. This includes lighter high-speed rolling stock, the development of overhead line equipment and pantographs with good current transmission at high speed and noise abatement measures. Noise has been a particular problem with the Japanese system.Details are given of measures being taken to deal with heavy snowfalls and the threat of earth tremors. Research is also continuing into a MAGLEV system in the Yamanashi region. This paper was presented at the EURAILSPEED 92 conference held in Brussels, April 27-29, 1992. For the covering abstract see IRRD 853180.

• Corporate Authors:

  International Railway Congress Association

  17-21 rue de Louvrain
  1000 Brussels,   Belgium 
• Authors:
  • Yamanouchi, S
• Publication Date: 1992

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 87-94
• Serial:
  • RAIL INTERNATIONAL
  • Issue Number: 6-7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Financing; Prevention; Railroad tracks; Railroad trains; Safety; Seismicity; Sensors; Snow; Sound level; Winter maintenance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention; 9009: Decrease; 9011: Design (overall design); 244: Financing; 8053: Japan; 5731: Seismic; 6120: Sensor; 2552: Snow; 6747: Sound level; 1268: Train; 2593: Winter maintenance
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00631608
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 1 1993 12:00AM