Super Tokkyu
Encyclopedia
is the name given to the concept of building new high-speed narrow gauge
(1,067 mm) railway lines in Japan to extend the shinkansen
network of high-speed lines.
, 4,000 m radius curves, and total grade separation
, with the ability to convert
the lines to standard gauge
(1,435 mm) in the future. Some reductions in journey times could be achieved using conventional trains running at faster-than-normal speeds (up to 200 km/h according to promotional materials), and total construction expenditure could be spread over a longer period, with travel times gradually reduced as more sections are completed.
The ultimate goal is eventual conversion to standard-gauge Shinkansen track once the entire line is completed, but with gauge change train
s, it may be possible in the future to upgrade these sections to full shinkansen specifications even while inter-operation with conventional lines remains in place.
These schemes were subsequently upgraded to full shinkansen specification lines.
As of 2009, the Kyushu Shinkansen
western route to Nagasaki
is under construction using the Super Tokkyū system.
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
(1,067 mm) railway lines in Japan to extend the shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , 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...
network of high-speed lines.
Concept
The Super Tokkyū concept involves building new narrow-gauge lines along the routes of planned shinkansen lines. All infrastructure would be built to high-speed shinkansen standards, including its wider loading gaugeLoading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
, 4,000 m radius curves, and total grade separation
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
, with the ability to convert
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
the lines to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
(1,435 mm) in the future. Some reductions in journey times could be achieved using conventional trains running at faster-than-normal speeds (up to 200 km/h according to promotional materials), and total construction expenditure could be spread over a longer period, with travel times gradually reduced as more sections are completed.
The ultimate goal is eventual conversion to standard-gauge Shinkansen track once the entire line is completed, but with gauge change train
Gauge Change Train
The Gauge Change Train or is the name given to a Japanese project started in 1994 to develop a high-speed train with variable gauge axles to allow inter-running between the standard gauge Shinkansen network, and the narrow gauge provincial network....
s, it may be possible in the future to upgrade these sections to full shinkansen specifications even while inter-operation with conventional lines remains in place.
Proposals
In 1991, the Super Tokkyū concept was formally planned to be used as part of the following three shinkansen extensions:- Kyushu ShinkansenKyushu ShinkansenThe ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
southern section between YatsushiroYatsushiro Stationis a train station located in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan.The station opened on November 21, 1896.- Lines :*Kyushu Railway Company**Kagoshima Main Line**Hisatsu Line*Hisatsu Orange Railway**Hisatsu Orange Railway Line- Adjacent stations :...
and Nishi-KagoshimaKagoshima-Chuo Stationis the main railway station in Kagoshima, Japan. It is the southern terminus of the Kyūshū Shinkansen and is located on the Kagoshima Main Line, and Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line... - Tohoku ShinkansenTohoku ShinkansenThe is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
extension between MoriokaMorioka StationMorioka Station is a railway station located in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.-History:The station was opened on November 1, 1890, by Japan's first private railway company, Nippon Tetsudō.-Station layout:...
and HakodateHakodate Stationis a railway station in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company . It is the terminus of the Hakodate Main Line and the Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line; Hakodate Municipal Transit streetcars stop at the adjacent Hakodate Eki-mae Station....
through the Seikan TunnelSeikan TunnelThe Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line... - Hokuriku ShinkansenHokuriku ShinkansenThe is a high-speed Shinkansen rail line under construction in Japan. The first section, between and , currently called the Nagano Shinkansen, opened on 1 October 1997.-Future:...
extension beyond NaganoNagano Stationis a railway station in the city of Nagano in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.This station is used by East Japan Railway , Japan Freight Railway and Nagano Electric Railway .-Lines:*East Japan Railway Company...
These schemes were subsequently upgraded to full shinkansen specification lines.
As of 2009, the Kyushu Shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
western route to Nagasaki
Nagasaki Station (Nagasaki)
is a railway station in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, operated by Kyushu Railway Company . It forms the terminus of the Nagasaki Main Line....
is under construction using the Super Tokkyū system.
See also
- Gauge Change TrainGauge Change TrainThe Gauge Change Train or is the name given to a Japanese project started in 1994 to develop a high-speed train with variable gauge axles to allow inter-running between the standard gauge Shinkansen network, and the narrow gauge provincial network....
, an experimental train designed to operate on both narrow-gauge and standard-gauge routes - Mini-shinkansenMini-shinkansenis the name given to the concept of converting narrow gauge railway lines to standard gauge for use by Shinkansen train services in Japan. Two mini-shinkansen routes have been constructed: the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen.-Concept:...
, the concept of converting narrow-gauge lines to standard gauge for use by Shinkansen trains