How? With a great screaming happy wall of people dressed up in superhero costumes who line the entire track, that’s how. Even if you take into account the Japanese love for Shinkansen and the fact that this is a company video by JR West, it’s a remarkable show. Homework assignment: spot the Power Rangers – then imagine the same in Europe or the US. More »
Traveling at 415km/h, Shanghai’s latest bullet train has smashed the previous record held by the country last year, by 21km/h. It services the Shanghai to Hangzhou route, which are about 202km apart. More »
Available now at every Japanophile’s favourite export site, J-List, for $US8, these bullet train chopsticks don’t quite travel at 360km/h, but they do make futomaki pieces taste even better. Fact. [J-List via Laughing Squid]
Not quite as absurd as the rail network planned which will see travel between London and Beijing possible in just two days, but some may think the idea of bullet trains in California is pretty darn crazy. More »
Among all the election hoopla this past Tuesday, California voters passed a proposition giving the state $US10 billion to begin building a high-speed rail between Northern and Southern California. The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act, or Proposition 1A, opens up a possibility that Californians may see a bullet train traversing between the two regions as early as 2020 among an 1250km stretch. Hold on, does this train mean I can flee to Disneyland (only the happiest place on earth) from the bums that accost me in San Francisco more often?! Hit the jump for more information.
It sure looks like a roller coaster, but this maglev (magnetic levitation) car is more likely in development for personal transportation. By Tyco and Gakken, the maglev system suspends the car 2-3 centimeters above the track, propelling the rider forward without friction. Since the fastest record for a full-blown maglev train is 580 kph, my guess is that an open cockpit like this one could make for one hell of a bug-faced ride. Maybe that face squeegee startup isn’t such a crazy investment after all. [nikkei BP via NewLaunches]
