Chuo Shinkansen
Encyclopedia
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Nagoya, and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The only part of the line that exists is the Yamanashi test track, which is currently being extended from 18.4 km to 42.8 km. The line is proposed to connect Tokyo and Nagoya in the first stage in 40 minutes, and eventually Tokyo and Osaka in an hour, running at a maximum speed of 505 km/h. It is a culmination of the maglev development since the 1970s, a government-funded project initiated by Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines
is an airline headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flag carrier of Japan and its main hubs are Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport , as well as Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair International Airport and Osaka's Kansai International Airport...
and the former JNR. JR Central now operates the facilities and research. The trainsets themselves are popularly known in Japan as , though there have been many technical variations.
Government permission to proceed with construction was granted on May 27, 2011. Construction of the line, which is expected to cost over ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
9 trillion, is expected to commence in 2014. JR Central aims to begin commercial service between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027, with the Nagoya-Osaka section to be completed in 2045. JR Central is considering opening up partial maglev service between Kofu, Yamanashi
Kofu, Yamanashi
is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city had a estimate population of 197,540, with 85,794 households. The total area is 212.41 km².-History:Kōfu's name means "capital of Kai Province"...
and Sagamihara, Kanagawa
Sagamihara, Kanagawa
is a city located in north central Kanagawa Prefecture, bordering Tokyo, Japan. It is the third most populous city in the prefecture, after Yokohama and Kawasaki, and the fifth most populous suburb of Greater Tokyo. Its northern neighbor is Machida, with which a cross-prefectural merger has been...
around 2020.
Yamanashi Test Track
Formerly, a test track was built in Miyazaki Prefecture for maglev research and developmentResearch and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
in the 1970s. After many successes, an eighteen-kilometre test track with tunnels and bridges and slopes has been built between Otsuki and Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture
Yamanashi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kōfu.-Pre-history to the 14th century:People have been living in the Yamanashi area for about 30,000 years...
(35.5827°N 138.927°W). The trainsets are currently being tested for durability and cost reduction, and have operating speeds of over 500 km/h (310 mph), making the Chūō Shinkansen the world's fastest railway. Residents of Yamanashi Prefecture and government officials were eligible for free rides, and over 200,000 people have taken part. Work is currently under way to extend the track a further 25 kilometres along the future route of the Chūō Shinkansen, bringing the total track length up to 42.8 kilometres. The work is expected to be completed by 2013, and will allow researchers to test sustained top speed over longer periods.
The rail firm will restart train rides on the Yamanashi test track for paying customers, likely on weekends and during the summer vacation period, from fiscal 2013 or later.
Route choice
The Chūō Shinkansen's proposed route follows the Chūō Main LineChuo Main Line
The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It runs between Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faster, while the Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the fastest rail...
between Tokyo and Nagoya, and the Kansai Main Line
Kansai Main Line
The is a Japanese railway line which connects Nagoya Station with JR Namba Station in Osaka. It is jointly run by the Central Japan Railway Company and the West Japan Railway Company with the boundary between both companies being located at Kameyama Station in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture.The section...
between Nagoya and Osaka. The routes pass through many sparsely-populated areas, but the routes are more direct than the current Tōkaidō Shinkansen route, and time saved through a more direct route was a more important criteria to JR Central than having stations at intermediate population centers. Also the more heavily populated Tōkaidō route is congested, and providing an alternative route, if the Tōkaidō Shinkansen were to become blocked by earthquake damage, was also considered. JR Central sometimes refers to the track as the Tōkaidō Bypass.
JR Central announced in July 2008 that the Chūō Shinkansen would most likely start at Tokyo's Shinagawa Station
Shinagawa Station
is the first major station south ofTokyo Station and is a major interchange for trains operated by JR East, JR Central, and Keikyu. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen and other trains to the Miura Peninsula, Izu Peninsula and the Tōkai region pass through here...
, citing difficulties in securing land at nearby Tokyo
Tokyo Station
is a train station located in the Marunouchi business district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, near the Imperial Palace grounds and the Ginza commercial district....
and Shinjuku
Shinjuku Station
is a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,...
stations for a maglev terminal, but the route has not been finalized.
A JR Central report on the Chūō Shinkansen was approved by a Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
panel in October 2008, which certified three proposed routes for the Maglev. According to a Japan Times news article, JR Central supports the more direct route, which would cost less money to build than the other two proposals, backed by Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
. The latter two plans have the line swinging up north between Kōfu
Kofu Station
is the central railway station managed by East Japan Railway Company , in the city of Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.- Lines :*East Japan Railway Company **Chūō Main Line*Central Japan Railway Company **Minobu Line...
and Nakatsugawa stations to serve areas within Nagano. In June 2009, JR Central also announced research results comparing the three routes, estimating revenue and travel time, which showed the most favorable being the shortest Plan C, with long tunnels under the Japanese Alps
Japanese Alps
The is a series of mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. The name was coined by William Gowland, the "Father of Japanese Archaeology," and later popularized by Reverend Walter Weston , an English missionary for whom a memorial plaque is located at Kamikochi, a tourist...
(Akaishi Mountains). The Council for Transport Policy for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism concluded on October 20, 2010 that Plan C would be most cost-efficient.
Reportedly, the route's Kanagawa Prefectural station will be at Hashimoto Station
Hashimoto Station (Kanagawa)
is a major stop on the East Japan Railway Company Yokohama Line, Sagami Line and the Keio Sagamihara Line straddling the city of Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.- JR East:- Keiō :-Surrounding area:*Midori Ward Office...
in Sagamihara. JR Central announced that one station would be constructed in each of Yamanashi, Gifu, Nagano, and Kanagawa Prefectures. The remaining stations were planned for Kōfu, Yamanashi
Kofu, Yamanashi
is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city had a estimate population of 197,540, with 85,794 households. The total area is 212.41 km².-History:Kōfu's name means "capital of Kai Province"...
, Nakatsugawa, Gifu
Nakatsugawa, Gifu
is a city located in the Tōnō region of Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1952.-History:During Japan's Edo period, Nakatsugawa was a post town, known as Nakatsugawa-juku, one of the 69 Stations of the Nakasendō along the Nakasendō. The travel route ran from the Nihonbashi in...
, and near Nagoya Station
Nagoya Station
is a train station in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is one of the world's largest train stations by floor area , and houses the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company . Much of this space is located in the "JR Central Towers" atop the station, as well as in underground concourses. The...
in Nagoya.
The details of three routes between Tokyo (Shinagawa) - Nagoya
| Plan name | Route between Kofu - Nakatsugawa |
Distance | Construction costs | Shortest journey time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan A | via Kiso Valley Kiso Valley The is a geographical area that centers on the valley of the upper portions of the Kiso River in the southwestern part of Nagano Prefecture in Japan... |
334 km | 5.63 trillion JPY | 46 minutes |
| Plan B | via Ina Valley (Chino Chino, Nagano is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 55,902 and the density of 209.83 persons per km². The total area is 266.41 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1958.- Geography :*mountain**Mount Yatsugatake... , Ina Ina, Nagano is a city located in Nagano, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 2006 when the old city of Ina merged with the town of Takatō and the village of Hase, both from Kamiina District, to form the new city of Ina.-Surrounding municipalities:*Nagano Prefecture... , Iida Iida, Nagano is a city located in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan.Located on the Iida Line, an old local train line that runs through the valley of the Tenryū River in the southern Japan Alps, Iida lies 90 minutes northeast of the major city of Nagoya by automobile via the Chūō Expressway... ) |
346 km | 5.74 trillion JPY | 47 minutes |
| Plan C | under the Japanese Alps Japanese Alps The is a series of mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. The name was coined by William Gowland, the "Father of Japanese Archaeology," and later popularized by Reverend Walter Weston , an English missionary for whom a memorial plaque is located at Kamikochi, a tourist... and Iida City |
286 km | 5.10 trillion JPY | 40 minutes |
Between Tokyo (Shinagawa) - Osaka
| Plan name | Route between Kofu - Nakatsugawa |
Distance | Construction costs | Shortest journey time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan A | via Kiso Valley Kiso Valley The is a geographical area that centers on the valley of the upper portions of the Kiso River in the southwestern part of Nagano Prefecture in Japan... |
486 km | 8.98 trillion JPY | 73 minutes |
| Plan B | via Ina Valley (Chino, Ina Ina, Nagano is a city located in Nagano, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 2006 when the old city of Ina merged with the town of Takatō and the village of Hase, both from Kamiina District, to form the new city of Ina.-Surrounding municipalities:*Nagano Prefecture... , Iida Iida, Nagano is a city located in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan.Located on the Iida Line, an old local train line that runs through the valley of the Tenryū River in the southern Japan Alps, Iida lies 90 minutes northeast of the major city of Nagoya by automobile via the Chūō Expressway... ) |
498 km | 9.09 trillion JPY | 74 minutes |
| Plan C | under the Japanese Alps Japanese Alps The is a series of mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. The name was coined by William Gowland, the "Father of Japanese Archaeology," and later popularized by Reverend Walter Weston , an English missionary for whom a memorial plaque is located at Kamikochi, a tourist... and Iida City |
438 km | 8.44 trillion JPY | 67 minutes |
Costs
On December 25, 2007, JR Central announced that it plans to raise funds for the construction of the Chūō Shinkansen on its own, without government financing. Total cost, originally estimated at 5.1 trillion yen in 2007., has escalated to over 9 trillion yen as of 2011. Nevertheless, the company has said it can make a pretax profit of around 70 billion yen in 2026, when the operating cost stabilizes. The primary reason for the project's huge expense is that it is planned to run in a tunnel for more than 60% of the entire line, and 40 m underground (deep undergroundDeep underground
is a Japanese concept for the public use of deep underground, enabled by a 2001 law. It was first thought of in the late 1980s as Japan faced ever increasing land values in the economic bubble, to allow the utilization of heretofore unused deep underground for necessary water and utility ducts and...
) for a total of 100 km in the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka areas.
Technical
On December 2, 2003, MLX-01JR-Maglev
JR-Maglev is a magnetic levitation train system developed by the Central Japan Railway Company and Railway Technical Research Institute . JR-Maglev MLX01 is one of the latest designs of a series of Maglev trains in development in Japan since the 1970s...
, a three-car train set a world record speed of 581 km/h (361 mph) in a manned vehicle run. On November 16, 2004, it also set a world record for two trains passing each other at a combined speed of 1,026 km/h (638 mph). On October 26, 2010, JR Central announced a new train type, L0 series
L0 Series Shinkansen
The is a high-speed maglev train on order by Central Japan Railway Company for use on the Chūō Shinkansen under construction between Tokyo and Osaka in Japan...
, for commercial operation at 505 km/h.
See also
- JR-MaglevJR-MaglevJR-Maglev is a magnetic levitation train system developed by the Central Japan Railway Company and Railway Technical Research Institute . JR-Maglev MLX01 is one of the latest designs of a series of Maglev trains in development in Japan since the 1970s...
- Maglev trainMaglev trainMaglev , is a system of transportation that uses magnetic levitation to suspend, guide and propel vehicles from magnets rather than using mechanical methods, such as friction-reliant wheels, axles and bearings...
- TransrapidTransrapidTransrapid is a German high-speed monorail train using magnetic levitation. Based on a patent from 1934, planning of the Transrapid system started in 1969. The test facility for the system in Emsland, Germany was completed in 1987...
- AérotrainAérotrainThe Aérotrain was a Hovertrain developed in France from 1965 to 1977. The lead engineer was Jean Bertin.The goal of the Aérotrain was similar to that of the magnetic levitation train: to suspend the train above the tracks so the only resistance is that of air resistance...
- High-speed railHigh-speed railHigh-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
- ShinkansenShinkansenThe , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...