For decades, Japan has been at the forefront of high-speed rail technology. Now, the Central Japan Railway Company has announced that it plans to build the fastest train in the world, between Tokyo and Nagoya, to be completed by 2027.
The new line, estimated to cost about $64 billion, runs about 178 miles on part of an existing Tokyo-to-Osaka line; the company expects speeds up to 310 miles per hour, shaving travel time between the two cities to 40 minutes from about 95 minutes. (Trains currently in use top out at about 167 miles per hour.) An extension of the high-speed line to Osaka is planned by the end of 2045.
The new rail will use magnetic levitation, which uses powerful magnets to elevate the train above the track, reducing friction and increasing speed. Last year, Japan began shopping the technology to possible partners in the United States. Last week, the Obama administration called for spending $53 billion on passenger trains and high-speed rail projects over the next six years.
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