Japan’s Shinkansen turns 60: The bullet train that transformed travel
Dubbed the “bullet train” for its sleek design and blistering speed, the Shinkansen was the world’s first high-speed rail service.
It wasn’t just speed that set the Shinkansen apart – it was a symbol of Japan’s post-war transformation, a technological marvel that reshaped cities and inspired the world.
On Oct 1, 1964, just days before Japan hosted its very first Olympic Games, the country unveiled one of its most ambitious projects.
Dubbed the “bullet train” for its sleek design and blistering speed, the Shinkansen, which means new trunk line, was the world’s first high-speed rail service.
The inaugural route - the Tokaido Shinkansen - linked Japan’s two largest cities, Tokyo and Osaka. It covered 515km in just four hours - down from the previous six-and-a-half hours.
Japan’s railways had suffered during World War II, and there was debate over whether the country could afford such a massive project.
