Collections
Shinkansen 'Bullet Train' exhibition
Introduction
A major new permanent exhibition has been launched at the National Railway Museum to showcase the world famous Japanese 'Bullet Train'. This is the first ever rail vehicle built and run outside Britain to enter the National Collection.
The Shinkansen Exhibition opened for public view on 14 July 2001 to coincide with the nationwide Japan 2001 Festival, that took place across the UK between May 2001 and March 2002.
Japan's "Bullet Train" is an international icon. Launched on the high speed Shinkansen (literally meaning "new main line") in 1964, it shaped the future for rail transportation around the world. Running at speeds of up to 130mph (210 km/h) it took just over 3 hours to travel the 320 mile (515 km) line between Tokyo and Osaka, setting standards that a number of other countries have since followed.
The Shinkansen Exhibition in the Great Hall at the NRM
© National Railway Museum
Capable of transporting up to 100,000 passengers each day, Shinkansen offered travellers a fast, frequent, safe and reliable service. There have been no passenger fatalities since Shinkansen services were introduced and, on average, trains arrive within 24 seconds of schedule.
This new online exhibition tells the story of how this significant example of world railway history came to the National Railway Museum.