Japan’s bullet trains, also known as the Shinkansen, are legendary for their state-of-the-art technology and comfort. I had the opportunity to experience it first-hand recently, when I boarded the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto (It was a delight to see people line up in perfectly organised queues to board the Shinkansen).
All Shinkansen trains offer two classes of seats: ordinary and green car, which are considered first-class. The trip to Kyoto, which is around 450km, is covered in the Nazomi lane in mere two hours. An ordinary class trip would cost around Rs 7,300 a person while one in the first class could cost more than double that rate. It operates at a speed of up to 320kmph. The average delay, mind you, is less than one minute per trip.
The Shinkansen operates on exclusive tracks and has an excellent safety record with no lethal accidents since its launch in 1964. During earthquake, the advanced seismic detection systems in the train will trigger an automatic power shutdown, which then activates the emergency brakes and stops the train.
Coaches in these bullet trains have roomy seats and enough legroom. When the train is moving, there are curbs on phone calls and loud conversations. The cleaning crew, responsible for maintaining the Shinkansen, have only seven minutes to prepare the train for its next journey. This short time is carefully managed, with specific tasks given to each and every cleaner, so as to ensure that the train is left gleaming. What fascinated me was that these cleaners bowed to us as trains arrived and departed from the station. The toilets are vast and clean even in ordinary class, and are much similar to a plane’s toilet.
I wandered into the first-class car. Here, the seats were better with more legroom and recline. First-class coaches offer reserved seating and there are amenities such as blankets and reading materials for every passenger. There is a dedicated staff in each first-class coach, who will assist you whenever required.
It is somewhat difficult to walk in bullet trains when they move. Photographs and videos are prohibited. The Japanese are polite and courteous but wouldn’t speak much. When a co-passenger had motion sickness, two passengers immediately gave their carry bags for him to vomit. A woman passenger also offered a packet of Japanese chips that she claimed would reduce the urge to vomit.
Due to its legendary technology and uniqueness, Shinkansen has become a global symbol. The UK, China and Taiwan already run Shinkansen trains while projects are on in the US and in India. Shinkansen projects are also being planned in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Brazil and Vietnam.
How will Shinkansen transform India?
India’s bullet train project will be fully operational by 2028. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail will be developed with technical and financial assistance from Japan. Covering a distance of 508km, it will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to two hours, from seven to eight hours now.
Construction has already begun on the 21km undersea tunnel, which is the first of its kind in the Indian subcontinent. Land acquisition of 1,389 hectares has been completed. India’s first bullet train will stop at 12 stations—Mumbai, Thane and Virar in Maharashtra, and Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati in Gujarat.
If successful, India will extend the bullet trains network to other routes—Delhi-Varanasi (813 km), Delhi-Ahmedabad (878 km), Mumbai-Nagpur (765 km), Mumbai-Hyderabad (671 km), Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru (435 km), Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar (459 km), and Varanasi-Howrah (760 km).
