For over six decades, Japan’s iconic bullet train, the Shinkansen, has been a symbol of technological excellence. Despite its legacy, the Japanese high-speed rail system now finds itself surpassed by China’s High-Speed Rail (HSR), which has achieved remarkable growth since its launch in the mid-2000s. As the pioneers of high-speed rail, Japan introduced the Shinkansen in 1964, operating over 3,000 kilometers today. Renowned for its advanced technology and impeccable safety record, the Shinkansen has never recorded a fatal accident. Yet, its success has been largely confined to Japan, with Taiwan being the sole international buyer. Taiwan’s High-Speed Rail operates the 700T Series, the first Shinkansen model sold outside Japan.
This limited international appeal is surprising, especially given the growing interest among developing nations in high-speed rail systems to boost transportation efficiency.
Experts believe that the primary reasons for this include the high costs and limited adaptability of the Shinkansen. According to reports from the Japan Times, the Shinkansen’s system is highly integrated and designed to stringent specifications that prepare for rare worst-case scenarios, making it less flexible compared to competitors’ offerings.
Japan emphasizes that the initial expense of the Shinkansen reflects its advanced technology and quality. Unlike European systems like France’s TGV, which can operate on existing tracks, the Shinkansen requires dedicated, specialized tracks. This necessitates acquiring land, significantly driving up upfront costs. However, advocates argue that the system’s long-term benefits, such as lower energy consumption and reduced wear on infrastructure due to the train’s lighter design, outweigh the higher initial investment.
“The upfront costs may seem daunting due to the superior quality of the Shinkansen,” Masafumi Shukuri, chairman of the International High-Speed Rail Association, explained in an interview. “But the focus should be on the life-cycle costs, which are significantly lower.”
Despite these advantages, the high initial price tag often deters potential buyers. The negotiation process also tends to be complex, requiring multiple high-level approvals, further hindering the Shinkansen’s international expansion.
While Japan’s bullet train remains a marvel of engineering, the challenges of cost and adaptability have left it struggling to compete on the global stage, where more flexible and cost-effective high-speed rail systems are gaining traction.
China’s high-speed rail (HSR), though relatively new, has quickly gained popularity among buyers. Since starting operations in 2008, China has built the largest high-speed rail network in the world and runs some of the fastest trains.
China has become a strong competitor to Japan in the high-speed rail market, using its influence and financial power to expand across Asia. For example, Indonesia, which was originally considering Japan’s Shinkansen, chose China’s HSR for its high-speed rail project in 2015. This was a major setback for Japan. In 2023, Indonesia launched the first high-speed rail service in Southeast Asia.
China is also working on a second HSR project in Thailand, expected to be completed by 2028. This will connect the Laos-China railway to Bangkok and could eventually extend to Kuala Lumpur and possibly Singapore.
In January, companies from around the world bid for the project, but Japan’s East Japan Railway Co. withdrew due to financial risks.
Japan is hopeful about a potential deal with India for a high-speed rail project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, but talks have been ongoing for years without a final decision. Japan also aims to secure a contract with Australia, which is planning its own high-speed rail system.
Meanwhile, China is pushing ahead with its technology by unveiling a new high-speed train prototype, adding more competition to Japan’s bullet train.
China unveiled its new high-speed train prototype, the CR450 EMU, on December 29 in Beijing. This train is expected to exceed speeds of 400 kilometers per hour, making it the fastest high-speed train in the world.
The CR450 is the result of the CR450 Technology Innovation Project, launched in 2021 to develop trains that are safer, more eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and smarter. The China State Railway Group (China Railway) claims this train will not only be the fastest but will also reduce travel time and improve connectivity for China’s vast number of passengers.
The prototype has already set a new global standard for performance in areas like speed, energy usage, noise, and braking distance, reaching a test speed of 450 kilometers per hour. The CR450 is designed to look like an arrow and is about 10% lighter than its predecessor, the Fuxing.
The new train will be faster than the current CR400 Fuxing trains, which operate at speeds of 350 kilometers per hour. If it performs as expected, it will cut travel time between Beijing and Shanghai from 4.5 hours to just 3.3 hours.
China already has the world’s largest high-speed rail network, with 47,000 kilometers of track in use, and 2,000 kilometers were added just last year.
