Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Japan launches 'Hayabusa' bullet train
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
World
Japan launches 'Hayabusa' bullet train
AFP - Saturday, March 5
Send
IM Story
Print
TOKYO (AFP) - – Japan's latest bullet train, the thin-nosed "Hayabusa" or Falcon, made its 300 kilometre per hour (186 mph) debut, boasting a luxury carriage modelled on airline business class.
Japan has built up a network of cutting-edge Shinkansen train lines since the 1960s that criss-cross the island nation and now hopes to sell the infrastructure technology abroad, including to the United States.
The latest ultra-fast tech-marvel will make two trips a day from Tokyo to Aomori, a scenic rural backwater on the northern tip of the main Honshu island that has until now been off Japan's bullet train map. It will also make one more trip a day to Sendai, located between Tokyo and Aomori.
Mutsutake Otsuka, chairman of East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), stressed the engineering sophistication of the new ride.
"To the best of our ability, we will strive to improve Hayabusa's passenger comfort, safety and environmental friendliness, not just its speed," he told hundreds of people who came to Tokyo station to see the futuristic train.
The mood at the launch was dampened slightly by a seven minute delay to the first service after a passenger fell from the platform at Tokyo station, where more than 1,000 train hobbyists rushed to take pictures.
The train was not moving at the time, and the man climbed back up to the platform unaided.
The green-and-silver E5 series Hayabusa travels at up to 300 kilometres per hour to make the 675 kilometre trip to Aomori in three hours and 10 minutes. From next year, it will push its top speed to 320 kilometres per hour to become Japan's fastest train.
Passengers will glide quietly along the straight stretches and tunnels that cut through Japan's mountainous countryside, said JR East, which has heavily promoted the launch of the new service.
Those willing to pay 26,360 yen ($320) for a one-way trip can enjoy the comfort of a 'GranClass' car, where a cabin attendant will serve them drinks and food in their deeply reclining leather seats on thick woollen carpets.
To promote the service, the train company has also heavily advertised Aomori as a tourist destination, praising its landscape, seafood and winter snow.
Japan's ultra-fast, frequent and punctual bullet trains have made them the preferred choice for many travellers, rather than flying or road travel, ever since the first Shinkansen was launched in time for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
But as Japan, and its railway companies, struggle with a fast-greying and shrinking population and falling domestic demand, the government and industry are aggressively seeking to promote the bullet trains abroad.
Japan has in the past sold Shinkansen technology to Taiwan and hopes to capture other overseas markets, such as Brazil and Vietnam, but faces stiff competition from train manufacturers in China, France and Germany.
The biggest prize is a future high-speed US rail network that President Barack Obama has promoted, to be backed by 13 billion dollars in public funding.
California's then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was treated to an early test ride on the Hayabusa when he visited Japan in September.
Japan says its trains boast a strong safety record: despite running in an earthquake-prone country, no passenger has ever died due to a Shinkansen derailment or collision -- although people have committed suicide by jumping in front of the trains.
Japan has also been developing a magnetic levitation or maglev train that, its operator says, reached a world record speed of 581 kilometres per hour in 2003 on a test track near Mount Fuji in Tsuru, west of Tokyo.
The plan is to launch maglev services between Tokyo and the central city of Nagoya by 2027. By 2045 they are expected to link Tokyo with the main western city of Osaka in just one hour and seven minutes, compared with the current two hours 25.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Saturday, March 5
"For Colored Girls", Perry win big at Image Awards Reuters - Saturday, March 5
Cary Elwes joins "Wonder Woman" pilot Reuters - Saturday, March 5
"Spider-Man" slapped with new safety violations Reuters - Saturday, March 5
Doobie Brothers are takin' it to country's streets Reuters - Saturday, March 5
News Search
Top Stories
Fall in US unemployment sparks optimism
British minister says unrest can double oil prices
Charlie Sheen latest: 'I'm Jewish, off to Haiti'
African leaders urge end to I. Coast killing
EU conservatives want strong euro, open on Irish rates
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
World's sixth mass extinction may be underway: study
Young Mexican female police chief seeks US asylum
Libya: live report
NASA Earth observation satellite fails to reach orbit
World can handle choked oil supplies: Geithner
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 5 March 2011 Police clash with Kadhafi opponents in Tripoli
Internet titans to meet, advise G8: source
Libya: live report
Euro-socialists call for lower EU loan rates
N. Korea refuses repatriations in row with South
Iditarod Race goes high tech with GPS devices
Fall in US unemployment sparks optimism
Egypt's new PM in Tahrir Square
Libyan deputy minister says government accepts Chavez plan
|
NASA Earth observation satellite fails to reach orbit
Anti-Gaddafi rebels, government dispute oil town control
|
New Egypt PM shows popular touch in Tahrir Square
|
Grief-stricken Pakistani Christians bury slain minister
Samsung sees iPad 2 thinness, price as challenge
Protesters across Oman demand reform, jobs
|
Fire rages through Mumbai slum
Sony to appeal Netherlands PS3s seizure in LG dispute
Thousands flee Sudan's Abyei flashpoint: aid group
|
Libyan leader Gadhafi calls Sri Lankan president
Dispute stalls Dutch PlayStation 3 shipment
More Shi'ite protests in Saudi oil region
|
Myanmar democracy group slams military fund
EU drops Hollywood studios probe
U.S. contractor goes on trial in Cuba
Myanmar pro-democracy group slams govt's budget
Child star of Oscar-winning film faces deportation
Britney's single "leaks," some predict a club hit
CBS acquires Web video guide, hires the top exec
|
Dior puts Galliano behind it at emotional Paris show
Georgia in US dispute over Stalin's favourite wine
EU drops Hollywood studios probe
Pakistani stocks end up; rupee firms; o/n rates down
Sony PlayStation 3 consoles held in Netherlands
Fashion pack turn out in support of Dior
EU exec closes antitrust probe into Hollywood studios
Monk in Bhutan jailed for having tobacco
Philippine blogger stirs a fashion revolution
Orange denies Tunisia corruption allegations
US-TECH Summary
CBS acquires Web video guide, hires the top exec
FT exec urges publishers to charge for web content
Samsung sees iPad 2 thinness, price as challenge
Character actor, director Frank Alesia dies
|
China prepares 4G mobile network: state media
Layoffs expected after AOL's Huff Post buy
Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart eye radical blues album
|
Grilled cheese, meatballs bid for Next Great Restaurant
|
SirusXM to launch station devoted to Charlie Sheen
|
Sony to appeal Netherlands PS3s seizure in LG dispute
Dispute stalls Dutch PlayStation 3 shipment
British minister says unrest can double oil prices
EU conservatives want strong euro, open on Irish rates
Rebels 'hold' key refinery town as many killed
Lawsuit tests use of private e-mail for public business
Georgia criticises Russia for not agreeing against force
Gaddafi forces surge in west Libya, rebels gain in east
|
Charlie Sheen latest: 'I'm Jewish, off to Haiti'
New Egypt PM shows popular touch in Tahrir Square
Japan to launch 'Hayabusa' bullet train
African leaders urge end to I. Coast killing
Libyan Internet service cut again: monitors
U.S., Sweden to push U.N. rights body to act on Iran
China internal security spending jumps past army budget
|
Bomb kills NATO service member in Afghanistan
North Korea heir formally invited to China
Aid contractor Gross goes on trial in Cuba
|
Thousands of Iraqis defy curbs to protest
New Egypt PM shows popular touch in Tahrir Square
|
Ivory Coast pays government workers as AU mediators stall
|
N.Korea heir formally invited to China
China state media warn against protest calls in capital
U.S. and Sweden to push U.N. rights body to act on Iran
|
Vote counting starts after Samoa election
Thousands expected for Sydney Gay Mardi Gras
U.S. aid contractor Gross goes on trial in Cuba
China says it will tackle inflation, boost incomes
American goes on trial in Cuba on spy charges
Sydney's Mardi Gras hits on same-sex marriage
Nepal's former Prime Minister Bhattarai dies at 87
Manigat seeks to stop influx of criminals to Haiti
Taiwan executes 5 murderers
Hong Kong picks Foster for $2.8 billion arts hub
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Accused Arizona shooter Loughner charged in new indictment
"For Colored Girls", Perry win big at Image Awards
Japan launches 'Hayabusa' bullet train
Bali observes Day of Silence for Hindu new year
Cary Elwes joins "Wonder Woman" pilot
Brazil at heart of Google's Latin America strategy
|
"Spider-Man" slapped with new safety violations
Twitter share auction suggests $7.7 billion valuation
|
Doobie Brothers are takin' it to country's streets
RIM to find new marketing chief to revive its brand
|
Lawsuit tests use of private e-mail for public business
|
AT&T CFO Lindner retiring, Stephens to replace him
|
Brazil at heart of Google's Latin America strategy
CBS buys online video guide Clicker Media
AT&T CFO Lindner retiring, Stephens to replace him
For Colored Girls, Perry win big at Image Awards
|
David Arquette hurt but okay after car crash
|
Charlie Sheen to get animated special on Spike TV
|
Spider-Man slapped with new safety violations
|
Doobie Brothers are takin' it to country's streets
|
Cary Elwes joins Wonder Woman pilot
|
Nostalgic Russians venerate Stalin on anniversary
Egypt ex-interior minister denies criminal charges
Berlusconi to attend all hearings in his trials
Trial opens of Egypt ex-interior minister
Saudi Arabia says won't tolerate protests
|
Yemen President reiterates to stay in power until 2013
|
U.N. force in Ivory Coast to be reinforced: official
|
State security building torched in Cairo: sources
|
Human Rights Watch slams journalists' arrests in Turkey
|
Japan foreign minister says won't quit
Leader of Russia's Chechnya gets new 5-year term
|
Key India coalition ally withdraws from government
|
Spokesman: China's military budget rise 'no threat'
Asean to hold roadshow in the US
Myanmar pilots among 6 dead in Russia crash
|
1,000 Thais missing in Libya
Philippine rebels burn bus drivers to death: police
Pakistan aims to keep deficit at 5 pct of GDP -finmin
Sony PlayStation 3 consoles held in Netherlands
Travellers shun capsule hotel
Tibetans swamp markets ahead of new year
Bali falls silent as Hindus mark Day of Silence
Taiwan executes five death row inmates
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights