Introduction of High-Speed Rail: Japan's Shinkansen in 1964

High-Speed Rail Began in Japan: Tokaido Shinkansen, October 1, 1964

The world’s first **high-speed rail passenger system** launched in **Japan** on **October 1, 1964** — the **Tokaido Shinkansen** (“New Trunk Line”).

The Original Line

• Route: Tokyo – Shin-Osaka (515 km / 320 mi).
• Time: **3 hours 10 minutes** (vs. 7 hrs conventional).
• Speed: 210 km/h (130 mph) — world record.
• Trains: 0 Series (white “bullet” nose).
• First Year: 100+ million passengers. Profitable from day one.

Global Spread (First in Each Country)

• **France:** TGV Paris–Lyon, 1981 (270 km/h).
• **Germany:** ICE, 1991 (Hamburg–Munich).
• **Italy:** ETR 450/500, 1988/1992 (Rome–Florence).
• **Spain:** AVE Madrid–Seville, 1992.
• **China:** CRH / CR400, 2007 (Qinhuangdao–Shenyang) — now **world’s largest network (45,000+ km)**.
• **South Korea:** KTX, 2004 (Seoul–Busan).
• **Taiwan:** THSR, 2007 (Taipei–Kaohsiung).
• **Morocco:** Al Boraq, 2018 (Tangier–Casablanca) — Africa’s first.
• **Turkey:** YHT, 2009 (Ankara–Istanbul).
• **Uzbekistan:** Afrosiyob, 2011 (Tashkent–Samarkand).
• **Saudi Arabia:** Haramain, 2018 (Mecca–Medina).

Defining “High-Speed”

• **UIC / EU:** ≥250 km/h (new lines), ≥200 km/h (upgraded).
• **Japan:** ≥200 km/h (Shinkansen standard).
• **US:** Acela (240 km/h max, avg 130) — *not* true HSR by international standard.

Japan’s 1964 breakthrough **redefined intercity travel** — and 60 years later, the Shinkansen network (2,800+ km) carries 400M+ passengers/yr with **zero passenger fatalities**. The gold standard.