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Japan is developing the world’s fastest train, the L0 Series, a maglev manufactured and tested by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).
It is expected to reach 603.5 km/h, well beyond the only commercial maglev currently in operation, the Shanghai Maglev, in Chinawhich reaches 460.2 km/h.
For comparison, the fastest trains in Europe, the TGV French and the Italian AGV Italo, reach maximum operating speeds between 306 and 354 km/h.
Tokyo-Nagoya in a few minutes
Usually a train from Tokyo to Nagoya it takes from one hour and 26 minutes to two and a half hours or more, depending on whether you choose the faster Shinkansen or the slower Kodama or Hikari services.
The L0 Series Chuo-Shinkansen Line, currently under construction, is expected to shorten the journey to just 40 minutes. A connection between Nagoya and Osaka is also planned later, which would unite the three cities into a single, larger service area.
To give an example in Europathe train would reduce the travel time between London and Edinburgh to just 60 minutes. Today, on British trains, the journey takes between 4 hours and 5 hours 45 minutes.
What makes the L0 Series so fast?
The L0 Series will use magnetic levitation (maglev), a technology that lifts the train above the tracks and allows the carriages to be pushed by another electric motor.
Thanks to electricity and magnets, the convoy glides through the air at previously unthinkable speeds.
Once ready for commercial use, the L0 Series will be able to travel from Tokyo to Osaka in one hour, compared to the current 2 hours and 20 minutes up to 4 hours.
It is a project that requires enormous investments: so far the costs have reached around 52 billion pounds (59.9 billion euros).
Completion was scheduled for 2027, but the project has already accumulated eight years of delay. The most realistic inauguration is between 2034 and 2035.
Could this train work in Europe?
Railway enthusiasts will welcome this novelty with enthusiasm, but the real question is another: can it work outside the Japanin markets such as the UK or Europe?
Integrating such a fast train into the British or European market could be more difficult than expected. These markets place great importance on comfort, travel experience, luxury and accessibility. Train journeys are often appreciated precisely for their slow pace and the beauty of the landscape.
Unless they are functional routes for business, such as London-Paris or London-Brussels, this preference could put an ultra-fast train at an immediate disadvantage in these markets.
Furthermore, a train like the L0 Series would require significant investments and new infrastructure, because it could not use existing lines. A large part of the route should pass through a tunnel, to be specially dug.
It consumes much more energy than standard British or European trains, further increasing costs. It also has lower capacity than most European trains, which would make it harder to cover costs.
