When were high-speed rail passenger systems introduced?

High-speed rail passenger systems were first introduced in Japan in 1964 with the launch of the Tokaido Shinkansen. This 515-km line connected Tokyo and Osaka, reducing the travel time from seven hours to three hours and ten minutes. The Shinkansen quickly became a huge success, carrying over 100 million passengers in its first year of operation. Since then, high-speed rail systems have been introduced in numerous countries around the world, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Morocco, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. These systems have transformed long-distance rail travel, providing fast, comfortable, and reliable service.