subject: The Shinkansen - Popularly Known As Bullet Train [print this page] The Shinkansen, popularly known as Bullet Train, is a kind of network of those high-speed railway lines operated by 4 Japan Railways Group companies. Every year, it is carrying 151 million passengers. It has already transported over four billion, the biggest than any other high speed line all over the world. The major islands of Japan namely Kyushu and Honshu are being served by the network of high speed train lines which actually connects Tokyo along with Japans major cities. Shinkansen means new trunk line. It refers to tracks, however this name is popularly used outside and inside Japan which refers to the trains and the system as whole.
It runs at a speed of 300 kilometers per hour. The Shinkansen is also popular for its punctuality, safety, efficiency and most especially comfort. Because of the Japan Rail Pass, Shinkansen is also a very gainful option for travel. The Shinkansen lines are Tohoku Shinkansen which is between Shin-Aomori Station and Tokyo Station. It includes Hayabusa, Yamabiko, Hayate, Max-Yamabiko, Nasuno and Max-Nasuno Trains. The Akita Shinkansen is between Akita Station and Tokyo Station. You need to ride the Komachi trains. Yamagata Shinkansen is using Tsubasa trains and it is between Tokyo and the Shinjo station. The Joetsu Shinkansen used Toki, Tanigawa, Max-Toki, Max-Tanigawa train and it is between the Tokyo station and Niigata station. You can read more information about using your Japan Rail Pass Here.
Moreover, the Nagano Shinkansen used Asama trains and it is between Tokyo Station as well as Nagano Station. Tokaido Shinkansen is using Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama trains and it is between Tokyo stations and Shin-Osaka station. The Sanyo Shinkansen is using Nozomi, Mizuho, Sakura, Hikari and Kodoma trains. It is between the Shin-Osaka station and the Hakata station. Lastly, the Kysushu Shinkansen is using Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame trains. It is between the Hakata Station and the Kagoshima-Chuo Station.
Japan Rail Pass is utilized in the entire Shinkansen trains apart from the Mizuho and Nozomi trains as well as it cover all fees that are involved. The seat reservations are for free at the ticket counters, learn how to use the Japan Rail Pass Timetable Here. The Pass holders can also receive seat reservation tickets which actually indicate reserved seat. Rail pass is also a must especially when utilizing non-reserved seat. Same as the Japan Rail Pass, some regional passes which also covers Shinkansen trains are existent and they also allow free reservations. These are the JR East Pass, JR Sanyo-Kyushu Pass, JR West Sanyo Area Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.
The great success of high-speed rail line in Japan encouraged the other nations all over the world in developing their own similar programs. The high-speed rails are now fixture of the mass transportation in many Asian and European nations. Two of the most distinguished services are in Spain and France. The Shinkansen routes are indeed completely separate from the conventional rail lines that are out there today. Shinkansen is also not affected by the freight or local trains and it also has the capacity in operating on many high-speed trains. It gives many benefits and advantages that is why many countries are now doing their own system.
