Japanese railways

Japanese railways are used in Japan for mass and high-speed travel between major cities and for commuter transport in metropolian areas.

Area Map of JR.

Management System of Japanese railways

There are two types of Japanese trains:

Classification of Japanese railways by structure

 
Shinkansen 0 Series Mach Liner-class.
 
A train in Nagasaki.
 
The unique monorail of the world, in Osaka.
  • Shinkansen(新幹線, meaning "New main line")(width of rail track is Standard Gauge (1,435mm); speeds of up to 300km/h)
  • Zairaisen(在来線, meaning "Older railway line") (width of rail track is usually Cape gauge (1,067mm); slower speeds)
    • Subway(地下鉄)
    • Tram(路面電車)
    • Monorail(モノレール)
    • Trolley bus(トロリーバス)
    • Funicular(ケーブルカー)
    • Others

History of Japanese trains

  • 1872 - October, 14: The first Japanese train was started between Shinbashi and Yokohama.
  • 1874 - Osaka-Kobe was opened.
  • 1877 - Kyoto-Osaka was opened.
  • 1880 - Temiya-Sapporo was opened.
  • 1889 - Tōkaidō line is completed (Shinbashi-Kobe)
  • 1927 - Subway (Ueno-Asakusa) was opened.
  • 1964 - The Shinkansen was opened.
  • 1975 - Tōkaidō-San'yō Shinkansen completed.
  • 1976 - All steam locomotives were retired.
  • 1982 - Tōhoku, Joetsu shinkansen opened.
  • 1987 - Japan national railway was dissolved, when JR was created.