Japan is already famous for pushing the limits of train travel with its innovative Maglev technology, and it’s about to raise the bar again. The upcoming Chuo Shinkansen high-speed rail will soon slash travel time between Tokyo and Nagoya to just 40 minutes, making intercity travel more convenient than ever. Here’s everything you need to know.
Image credit: Northlandz Miniature Wonderland via Flickr
This new rail is expected to increase connectivity between Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. The Tokyo-Nagoya section of the Chuo Shinkansen high-speed rail has been in the works since 2014, with further expansion to Nagoya to follow soon after.
Improved L0 series of Maglev trains will be running on the tracks once they are ready. For comparison, the N700 series of trains that is currently running for the Tokaido Shinkansen goes up to 300km/h, which is already impressive. But the L0 trains can reach speeds of up to 500km/h.
Nagoya Castle.
Image credit: @nemotrinidad via Instagram
The Tokyo-Nagoya section of the Chuo Shinkansen is expected to reduce travel time by half compared to the current Tokaido Shinkansen, cutting the journey from about 1.5 hours to 40 minutes.
Other than the faster trains, the route itself is also shorter. While the Tokaido Shinkansen covers about 346km between Tokyo and Nagoya, the upcoming Chuo Shinkansen travels inland through the Kanagawa and Gifu Prefectures. This cuts the distance down to 285.6km and significantly shortens the travel time.
Image credit: 杭田知浩 via Google Maps
Once it opens, the line will start from Shinagawa Station, a major transport hub in the wider Tokyo area that serves multiple train lines across the country. It’s a 20-minute walk to get there from the Shinagawa Shrine.
Shinagawa Station.
Image credit: 畠山武志 via Google Maps
Ticket prices for the Chuo Shinkansen are yet to be released, but you can expect the fare structure to be similar to other high-speed rails in Japan. This usually includes a base fare and an additional Shinkansen fee, along with a seat reservation fee, which ranges between ¥330 (~S$2.68) and ¥930 (~S$7.56), depending on your travel date.
The Chuo Shinkansen project has experienced a few delays over the years due to rising costs. But if all goes to plan moving forward, the Tokyo-Nagoya section is slated to open in 2035, with the further extension to Osaka expected to follow sometime in 2037.
That is still a long way to go, so fingers crossed that all goes smoothly over the next decade.
Japan has always been a pioneer of Maglev technology, and this upcoming line is just more proof that it’s still setting the pace. Developments like these will benefit the local economy and hopefully encourage more countries to keep improving their public transportation systems, making travel easier for both citizens and tourists alike.
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Cover image adapted from: Northlandz Miniature Wonderland via Flickr, @nemotrinidad via Instagram
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