1964
62 years ago
OpeningJapan
Shinkansen Bullet Train Launch
Japanese National Railways
Tokyo
July 29, 1964
Summary
Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen high-speed line began operations between Tokyo and Osaka.
Full Story
On July 29, 1964, just before the Tokyo Olympics, the world's first dedicated high-speed rail line opened with 0 Series Shinkansen trains reaching 210 km/h. Overseen by JNR president Shinji Sogo, it conquered seismic and mountainous terrain using advanced aerodynamics and earthquake detection. The line halved travel time to under four hours, boosting Japan's post-war economic miracle and setting global standards for passenger rail speed and punctuality that influenced Europe's TGV and China's CRH networks.
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Quick Facts
- Date
- July 29, 1964
- Event Type
- Opening
- Country
- Japan
- Years Ago
- 62
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