Chuo Shinkansen: Japan's Incredible Rail System 

9:57 I feel like you could have given credit to the wonderful Mustard channel for that bit of B-roll. He makes amazing animations for his videos and a lot of the audience of this channel would enjoy his videos.

Fun fact: The Gotthard Base Tunnel was opened one year earlier than planned and cost less than originally anticipated. Not all megaprojects are planned inaccurately ;-)

America: Train is 15 minutes late, just another day at the office for the train driver. Japan: 30 seconds late, driver starts to panic.

1930s: Japanese talking about doing high speed rail 2020: Australian government still talking about doing high speed rail

I work at the NRM in York. We have the only 0 Series Shinkansen leading car outside of Japan. Also, the extension from Nagoya to Osaka is scheduled to open in 2037 as extra funding was secured. It was originally planned for 2045 as you stated. For anyone interested, the UK actually had the first commercial maglev train. It never really took off in the UK so we got rid of it. And now look where we are.

Guess I'm a time traveler, cause that Trans siberian railway video was definitely watched a couple days ago 😂

Another interesting part of their high speed rail is the amazing maintenance that goes on every day. Every inch (centimeter) of the line is computer inspected by special trains every evening.

Germany: gets praised for efficiency Germans: well, you guys clearly haven’t travelled with Deutsche Bahn yet. We‘re glad if trains aren’t delayed for more than 15 minutes half the time! Japan: Hold my beer...

As someone who commutes by train to work, after riding the shinkansen and learning about delays that are literally measured in seconds across an entire year - going back to my normal train here in Australia made me feel like such a peasant. Japan are light years ahead of everyone for reliable, safe, fast and efficient transport. Even the cleaners who have only a few minutes to clear out the carriages are incredibly talented at what they do. The whole system works in perfect harmony.

Japan (1960) - let's build a high speed rail system UK (1960) - Let's put Dr Beeching in charge of modernising the rail system

I felt like i time traveled when you said the video about Trans-Siberian railway.

Experienced the Shinkansen trains twice now. Once when I was 11 and last year at 23. Super impressive technology and transport designs. Blown away is an understatement. Hoping to return in 2022 sometime with two pals to visit my family! Love the country.

Was at Japan for 10 days for a short holiday. Really saved a hell lot of time and money because of the Japanese shinkansen. I arrived and departed from Osaka Kansai but thanks to their extremely efficient Shinkansen, I was able to go to places like Hiroshima, Kyoto and even as far as Tokyo even when my hotel is based in Osaka. One way from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo station was about close to 3 hours. I saved a few hundred dollars because of the Japan Rail Pass which allowed me to travel on almost all JR lines regardless of JR's normal trunk line or the shinkansen (excluding for Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen). The cost of the shinkansen train ticket for a two way trip between Osaka and Tokyo is already more than the cost of my Japan Rail Pass and I travel both ways for 3 straight days even though I spent like 6 hours on a shinkansen on each of the 3 days. Trust me, if you plan to travel to at least 2 cities in Japan, you will need a Japan Rail Pass (they have regional and country wide passes) and it is way cheaper to buy it at your own country before your flight to Japan.

I’m living in Japan for 12 years, and Shinkansen is amazing! Unfortunately the Linear Shinkansen will be postponed, because of environmental issues, that JR and Shizuoka Prefecture can’t reach agreement for more than 5 years already! It is a recent news from this week! One more thing, they managed to get the schedule for Nagoya-Osaka 8 years earlier, and it is expected to launch in 2037, not 2045! Also it is pronounced “Chu-oo-Shinkansen” Cheers from Japan!

this guy has more channels than my Girlfriends Mixer desk ( she's a musician)

0:35 - Chapter 1 - New trunk line 2:55 - Chapter 2 - History 4:55 - Chapter 3 - The early days 6:10 - Chapter 4 - Expansion 8:20 - Chapter 5 - Technology 10:15 - Chapter 5.1 - 0 series 10:50 - Chapter 5.2 - N700 Series Shinkansen 11:25 - Chapter 6 - Today on the shinkansen 14:00 - Chapter 7 - The future is Maglev 16:30 - Chapter 8 - An example set

I mean is there even a debate as to whether the Gotthard Tunnel being a Mega Projects video.

If liking trains is sad, I'm the backup singer of a failed emo band.

I remember in high school and visiting Japan and when I took the train there and they were apologizing for being 2 minutes ahead of schedule. And would be at the station for the extra 2 minutes to get back on schedule

Having delved quite deep into the world of Japanese railfan videos on RU-vid, I dare say Japan has some of the world's most interesting and varied railway systems. From old-school tram, rural railway, and commuter rail train cars, all the way to modern, futuristic metro, intercity, and high-speed railway cars, Japan has them all. And then you also have a plethora of rubber-tyred metros and people mover systems, both straddle-beam and suspended monorail systems and lines, and maglev-based systems, such as the Linimo maglev metro system in Aichi, and the high-speed (and upcoming) Chuo Shinkansen mentioned here. It's all very fascinating, and if you are a huge railfan like me the variety of it all will suck you in pretty quick. . I have seen a video somewhere, where a so-called "mini-Shinkansen" train runs right alongside a steam locomotive, along a regular railway line that has been upgraded to allow specially-designed Shinkansen trains to run through-service onto them (but at slower regular-railway train speeds though). It's quite a sight to behold, and even that only just begins to describe the kind of railway variety you can see in Japan.

Average delay 24seconds😂 In India we measure delays in Hours and Days😂

I like trains!

Been on Tokaido shinkansen twice. It really is a bliss. And the sushi box, and the 3 min departure time when the train stops at exact scheduled time. And the comfortable reclining chairs and the amazing scenery passing through your plane-like window.

Having travelled on Japan's current design for the Shinkansen, I can confirm that the ride is very smooth. It's also very roomy. Besides the entrance/exit, there's plenty of head room and leg room in the seats is better than I would have expected for someone like myself at 6'5". The seats are also very comfortable and there's very little noise inside, partly because the passenger area is well isolated from the outside and partly because loud conversation on a train will get you disapproving looks.

I've taken the Shinkansen many times on various routes in Japan. It's truly a wonderful experience in all ways.

Yes, please! Make a video of the 'NEAT' Switzerland's 21st century rail lines trough the Alps comprising of 3 main tunnels (Lötschberg, Gotthard & Ceneri Base Tunnel) scheduled to be fully operational by December 2020

I took the shinkansen a few times, it is incredible. Fast, comfortable, efficient. And how insane is it that in over 50 years of service, with over 3000 high-speed trains in service, they have never had a single fatality?

That Tokyo-Osaka trip is cheaper than Philly to NYC on the Acela.

"320km/h, this is the shinkansen" Shows the chou shinkansen with a top speed of 505km/h To be clear, chou is the specific name of the maglev line specifically.

Fascinating show Simon. I knew about Japan pioneering high-speed trains, yet I didn't know most of these facts. Well presented 👍😁

your translation among meassurment systems and units is quite useful, other youtubers need to learn to put into that effort, thank you for that.

I travelled from Tokyo to Kyoto and back on a bullet train in 2018... it’s the smoothest thing I’ve ever travelled in...I slept like a baby

I'm only 2:50 in and their are already a bunch of weird in accuracies like the term bullet train being from the 1930's not 1960's and the Chuo Shinkasen being the first maglev line even though it's under construction and China has had a commercial maglev line since 2004. I like these shows but they seem really rushed. Like the ISS episode implies that Mir was the first space station but the USSR's Salyut programme was decades older and included a military space station that had an anti-aircraft gun to test whether you can shoot satellites in orbit (turns out the answer is yes).

Took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Mount Fuji to hike up the mountain. Amazing experience; only downside was the ride being so short (lasted a little over 30 minutes).

Weird megaproject video idea: The SI unit system It's often taken for granted but it took a lot of work and money to determine how to define sizes and so on. (Like two Frenchman who needed to measure the distance between Calais and Barcelona while the Napoleonic wars were happening)

Sam from Wendover : Planes Simon : Trains

Should do the French counterpart to these trains, the TGV. The TGV has the fastest speed record for a conventional wheeled train at 578 km/h.

One of Shinkansen features is they apologise for being early than scheduled.

Took the Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo, absolutely amazing, like flying in a plane! Absolutely whisper quiet, no squeaking or squealing. Even more amazing when watching a train going the other direction at 170 mph.

Fantastic shinkansen video! Thank you very much for showing!🌸 😊🇯🇵

"i like trains" - Simon Whistler. 2020.

1950's: "The Japanese were just a little bit ahead of the game", Rest of the world obtain revenue through speeding fines... 2020: "The Japanese were still very much ahead of the game"

Great video about a great train system. I love riding the Shinkansen!

One of the advantages/benefits of the Shinkansen (or almost any train) system is that departure and arrival are at city centers or sub-centers. (For some routes , there are three stations In Tokyo from which a shinkansen can be boarded.) If one were to travel by air, one would first have to get out of the city center and to the airport. Then one would have to check in for one's flight probably at least half an hour before flight time. Then there is security. Then boarding, backing out from the gate, etc etc before one even gets into the air. On arrival, one has to wait for luggage (or travel very light) and then get into the city center. Automobiles have the problems of traffic jams and parking not to mention actually having to drive the car (sometimes it is amusing but often it is a tedious task that demands total concentration).

9:58 I guess u asked mustard about this footage. I feel like there would be a connection there.

One Video I would like to see is the Tokyo Flood protection system

Yes indeed Simon the Gotthard Base tunnel would be a great episode ! Love them all keep up the good work .

Riding on this train was a highlight experience for me when I was working in Japan for a few months in 2008. Its a really smooth ride. I would encourage everyone visiting the country to plan on taking a ride somewhere on a bullet train. A few riding tips. Nobody spoke on their mobile phone in the car. If one needed to make a call you left your seat and went to a separate compartment for phone calls and smoking. Buy a bento box lunch at your departure station and eat along the way. Call home and leave a message while traveling at 200mph for the fun of it. Last note: I feel your pain from the internet trolls who don't like your Japanese or other foreign language pronunciation. I get the same snarky comments as one from Texas.

I still remember the first time I rode the Shinkansen. It was 1997, and I was travelling from Tokyo to Gunma to see my girlfriend at the time. I was fascinated by how fast I was cruising through the scenery. It actually scared me. Fast-forward to 2020 and the Shinkansen is just another piece of infrastructure (THAT IS STILL FUN TO RIDE!!!!) 🚅

Hi simon im not sure if you have done a video on it but, a video on the construction of the swiss defensive line during the cold war would be cool. (all the bunkers + setting their bridges to blow) For the commenters, if you like the idea please like or comment on this so simon might see. if you hate the idea dislike so simon knows not to do it.

Simon you mad man I love all of your videos. Keep up the good work!

It really is quite a shocker how different the trains in the UK and Japan are! It's the only way to travel between cities in Japan and for a tourist is not really that expensive.

the US could take one year's military budget and build a dozen things this big and useful.

The Shinkansen pricing is a bit more complex then what was mentioned.Train fares in Japan are distance based (even the local public transport), not flat fare or zone based as in many other places around the world. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen has 17 stations and 3 types of train service. The Nozomi only stops at the 6 major stations (Tokyo, Shinagawa, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka), the Hikari stops at between 6 and 14 stations, depending on the given service, and the Kodama stops at all 17. The Nozomi is more expensive then the Kodama. There is a surcharge for the Shinkansen compared to the regular train (there is also a "slow" train Tōkaidō main line which has 166 stations) and there is a surcharge to reserve a seat. You can book an unreserved seat, and get a slight discount (which could be your only option to get a given train if the reserved seats are booked out), but you could end up standing in the aisle of an unreserved car.You can also book a "green car" (first class) seat. The base Tokyo-Osaka shinkansen fare is 8910JPY. Once you account for the surcharges, the Nozomi is 19590JPY (first class), 14720JPY (reserved), 13870JPY (unreserved) and the Hikari and Kodama are 19270JPY (first class), 14400JPY (reserved), 13870JPY (unreserved)

Absolutely love this channel just found it yesterday and can't change the channel

Hi Simon, you should consider doing a video on the Chinese high speed rail network. It’s cheap, fast (340km/h), extensive and is being expanded at an eye watering rate!

ALLEGEDLY!!! Oh wait wrong Simon Whistler channel 😂😂

Consecutive train videos? I’m liking where this channel’s heading!

Fun fact: There's a rail being built (or rather, about to be built, it got the final permits back in May, but the current situation has delayed actually breaking ground) in Texas from Houston to Dallas based on the Shinkensen design, and with the aid and consultation of the Central Japan Rail Company. When completed, it will get you from one end to the other in 90 minutes (it's normally a 3-4 hour drive depending on traffic).

What currently amazes me on the train subject is the Chinese rail infrastructure. Maybe a future subject for this channel?

The most important thing for Japanese people is safety and punctuality.

FTR, I love trains too, as did my late father. Thanks for another awesome video!

Absolutely ROCKING that beard, my guy. Great content as usual

GODHARD TUNNEL please!!

Quite problematic that you do not mention this major change at all: for the *new* shinkansen track, Japan changed from ancient 3.5ft gauge to standard gauge (1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in), which allows for higer speeds throughout). 200km/h in 1965 was a great achievement. So really, in 1959 Japan started to desdign & build their railways from scratch.

Nice video again Simon, i would really enjoy one about the siege of Masada!

Holy hell, you are prolific. I feel like I get notifications for your videos several times a day, every day

Please do the Swiss tunnel!!

I love Japan. Also I lived there for 15 years. Best and most efficient country in the world.

Simon, I trust your call on any mega project you want to cover - not that my approval is benevolent. All your videos are great, I'd love to learn about the Swiss train line!

While visiting our daughter in Japan we rode this train from Tokyo to Kyoto. Beautiful train and ride.

Last time I was this early, I was sacked for not keeping to the timetable.

Good thing the Koreans took the TGV and souped it up. I've been on both (Paris - Nice - 1995, Seoul - Daegu - 2012) and I was already impressed. When they snowpierce that, I'll take a seat.

Anyone who is planning to spend time in Japan should consider purchasing a Japan Rail Pass that will allow you to travel on the Shinkansen for 7, 14, or 21 days for 1 cost. (currently about $275 US for a 7 day pass, close to the cost of 1 round trip ticket to Osaka from Tokyo). For me, it’s better than flying (roughly the same time when you consider the time to and from the airport and the security checkpoints, and any flight delays) and you can sit in a comfortable seat, enjoy a freshly made bento 🍱 with a can of beer, Highball, or Strong Zero, and relax and enjoy the scenic views of Japan speed past your window...

Three years ago I travelled on the Kyoto to Tokyo Shinkansen and it had a delay of ONE minute! The chief train attendant personally came to each car and in Japanese and English offered his most profound apologies for such unheard-of incident. They also updated all connecting train schedules to make sure that all on board could make their connection. If in Belgium a train arrives within one minute of its scheduled arrival, people will kiss the train attendant and fall on their knees in utter amazement and thankfulness.

As the UK Government is basically about to renationalise our railways. Could they get a Japanese management team to sort them out, as no one British seems to have a clue judging by the last 50 years. We British invented both the railway and Maglev, yet our railways are crap and overpriced and we don't use Maglev at all

Please do the transcontinental railroad/ Bering sea bridge

The pricing of the Shinkansen varies as there are 3 different types on the Tokkaido Shinkansen called Hikari (stops at all stations), Kodoma (stops at fewer stations), and the Nozomi (the express train that only stops at Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka).

I heard a story about shinkansen. A tourist was using the train and had heard of its reputation for a tight schedule. The train was set to enter the station in less than a minute, and he was watching his watch. 15 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds. On the mark the train pulled in and stopped. Perfectly on time.

You’re not sad Simon. You’re in good company with us ferroequinoligists.

Train week!!! YAY

Im from the UK & I traveled from Tokyo to Hiroshima in 2019 (with a change of trains in Kyoto) & the very comfortable travel time was 4hr 10mins I think, including the change & this wasn't the fasted shinkansen! these trains are gorgeous & a treat to use.The Japanese are so polite, the conductors bow to the travelers at ingress/egress of each carriage. anyone visiting Japan, you can get a JR rail pass which includes most shinkansens free & a lot of other trains in the country. It's amazing they can go from 180mph to 0 & stop EXACTLY at the gate on the platform for that shinkansen (within an inch) & do all this exactly on time. the shinkansen platforms have barriers with a gate , colour coded to match the shinkansen that will stop there (they all have different names & colours, to make it easy to find the one you booked). I highly recommend it. I might have some videos of the trip on my channel.

Brilliant video as always, thank you! Would love to see a video about the construction of the east west rail link in England. Things a ramping up near me and I would love to get a broader view of what is happening. Thanks again!

Wasn't built overnight. China: hold my beer.

Still remember my experience on the Chinese High Speed Rail, delaysssss, it was raining and it did 80 km/h for the entire hour...

Hugely interesting video - well done! Subscribed.

Amazing engineering. Amazing cost. Mega, indeed. Cool video, Simon. Cheers...

imagine missing your train and only having to wait 3 minutes for another one

America should just build a train system called the super duper missile so we'll actually fund it.

Lived in Japan 6 years. Only rode the Shinkansen a few times but can confirm it's fast, smooth and comfortable. Made it from Yokohama to Fukui in no time

That face he made after realising how the "I quite like trains" comment sounded. :D Priceless!

another idea for a subject on megaprojects: Chinese High-speed train network

9:57 is that shot from Mustard's channel?

I love taking the Shinkansen to Osaka from Shinagawa it's longer than a flight but so smooth and comfortable with much more room.

Having travelled on these trains I found it amusing when they apologised for leaving a few seconds early. So used to trains turning up late in the uk and being overcrowded

Simon you're nearly as bad as an English train with you're timetabling, you released the Siberian railway video first.

Hey simon maybe cover the explosion of high speed train in china?

Great video, needed a section on how they detect and react to earthquakes so the trains don't derail as that is super interesting

Another fun fact about the shinkansen is that the trains are so successful that Japanese are going to export the e5 series Shinkansen (top speed 320 km/h) to India for the Mumbai- Ahmedabad high speed corridor ( u can see the e5 series at 4:41 )

Simon: "They're beautiful, they're fast, they're safe, and they're reliable" Me: *cries in Swedish'