Super trains for tomorrow

Super Trains for Tomorrow by Anthony paul

Best Railway system in Japan

Japan has best railway system in the world today. It has exceeded the speed of the fastest train of India which is having the speed of 120 km an hour only. Japan’s Bullet trains are running with the speed of 200 km an hour.

Japan is a developed country even after the disastrous attack of nuclear bomb, Second world war in 1945. Geographical structure is also not perfect for railway lines because it is made of four large islands, and mountains cover three-quarters of the land area. This makes it difficult to have a good railway system. But Japan never thinks of negativity. With positive mind and positive attitude they make everything possible and perfect.

Tokyo and Osaka

Tokyo and Osaka are very much crowded cities. Traffic between these two cities is always overcrowded. This part of the Japan has the greatest population because most of the factories are situated here. Even the fastest train was not enough because of overloading.

Railway lines in Japan from beginning

Japan has best Railway system. If an express train is late by more than a few minutes, The JNR (Japanese National railway) often returns a part of the fare to the passengers.

The JNR running 122 passenger trains and 78 goods trains every day in each direction. JNR is ready to spend more money on Railway lines even if railway all over the world facing loss due to increase in road and air transport.

According to the statement of the head of JNR, Shijni Sago

“If we cannot run our trains between Tokyo and Osaka, then Japan will never prosper”

i)                    Tokaido Line

The head of JNR has asked to his engineer to build a completely new system for Railway. Hence they have build Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka. It was started in 1964. It has carried 500 million passengers saving them 1200 million hours in travelling time. Therefore production in the factories is also raised by 2812 crores.

ii)                   Seikan Tunnel

Japanese government has build Seikan tunnel to connect the two islands, So that JNR will run through this Tunnel. It was necessary because of unclear route. Trains had to be carried out from one island to another. Tsugaru strait, which separates the main island of Honshu from Hokaiddo, cannot be crossed by a bridge because it was the largest of four islands. In 1954 Toya Maru (Ferry ship) sank while crossing this bridge because of storm. Mostly bridges are swept away in a storm. Therefore with Seikan tunnel the journey from Tokyo and Sappora, the capital of Hokkaido will be cut down to about 5 hours from 16 hours.

iii)                 Problems regarding Tokaido Line

-Tokaido Line is not able to carry all the passengers and goods.

-Great noise is created by Bullet Trains of Tokaido Line.

- These trains are too slow for the needs of the future.

-Any train running on wheels cannot go faster than 300 km an hour.

iv)                 Problems regarding Hovertrain

-Hover trains which are used today in few places of France and Germany are also not applicable for Japan because of its great noise.

-It is noisier than the Bullet Trains because of the fans which keep the whole train above the ground.

-It cannot run through Tunnels because there would be not enough air to support its fan system.

v)                  A Magnetic Train

Scientists have discovered a Magnetic train which runs on the principles of North and south poles of magnet. If two Magnets have same pole they will repel each other, however opposite poles attracts each other. Same formula was applied in train system where the track and the train having same positive electrical charge or same poles which pushed away or repelled the train from the track. Thus the train will float a few centimeters above the track. It was tested in Japan in 1972.

Conclusion

This was a very small beginning, but the JNR plans to run, perhaps within next five years, magnetic trains carrying 100 passengers between Tokyo and Osaka, at a speed of over 500 km an hour. The day may soon come when trains will fly across the countryside at almost the speed of airplanes. When that day comes, Then JNR will be in first position.