Mag Lev and Rolling Stock Yard

As it currently stands, the Shinkansen operations between Tokyo and Osaka have reached an almost perfect level of operation. There are no delays (.5min/train/year), the trains are running at their top speed for the tracks (270km/hr), and the maximum number of trains per hour are used during many times of the day. In order for JRC to expand and improve their services, they have been researching a superconducting maglev train since 1962.

Since the projects inception they have made great strides and now have a full passenger version that can travel over 500km/hr! Here is the history and the principles behind the train if you want some further reading: Superconducting Maglev. On its proposed new line, this train will cut travel time Tokyo-Osaka from 2.5 hours down to 1! There are still tests to be run, and a huge amount of lines to lay before the train will be operations, however. If everything goes to plan, you will be able to ride the mag-lev in 2025.

For the second half of the day we traveled to one of the rolling stock yards. This is where trains go for their scheduled maintenance, as well as for nighttime storage. We donned hard hats and got a close up look at train maintenance. As with most of their operations, the maintenance is done frequently and thoroughly. Here are a few pictures: