Bullet trains have been around for a long time since the first Tōkaidō Shinkansen opened in 1964 binding Tokyo and Osaka with high-speed rails. After all these years, these machines keep mesmerising us, defying physics laws and running with mind-blowing speeds. To honour their living legacy, this article lists you six fun facts about bullet trains.
1/ The original name Japanese name “Shinkansen” does not mean “Bullet train”!
The Japanese name for bullet trains, Shinkansen, actually means “new trunk line” since it was built on all-new bridges and tunnels constructed specifically for high-speed trains.
The name “Bullet train” stuck in minds due to the resemblance between the first train and a gunshot bullet. Its speed helped emphasize the nickname.
2/ “Pusher” is a train-related job in Japan!
Special attendants are mobilized to “push” passengers into crowded trains during rush hours, allowing the doors to close.
3/ The fastest bullet train isn’t the newest, and it not even Japanese!
Running since 2004, the fastest bullet train is the Chinese “Shanghai Maglev” that runs at 267 mph (around 300 km per hour).
It’s worth saying that Japan is working on a new High-speed train between Tokyo and Osaka. It’s supposed to be in use just in time for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Read more on the next page >
Leave a Reply