Shinkansen in USA? - selling the system, not just the trains

[bikkuri bahn]

Probably already a couple of years old (Maehara is the transport minister here), but this TV Asahi report has some interesting tidbits of information:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHPZ9sIMfIA&feature=related

 

The second half is most interesting to me.  Catenary wire replacement, and ballast replacement.  They can only replace in one night 75m of track ballast, so complete coverage of the Tokaido Line is done in terms of 10 to 20 year time span*. The highlight for me is a (rare) visit to the No. 2 control center in Osaka (starting at 10:35).  The center has a crisis drill once every three months, in this case a simulation of a sudden downpour (squall) greater than 60mm precipitation/1hour, which shuts down the line. Drivers and conductors have simulator training once every month for various types of incidents. At 12:27, synchronizing watches.

 

*I was extremely lucky a year or two(?) back to have seen this operation right from my hotel window at Gifu Hashima- it is fascinating, and kept me up in early morning hours watching, suffice to say I was a bit sleepy the next day.

[cteno4]

bikkuri,

 

thanks great video! love the mow equipment, always fascinating. theres a bunch on youtube from big long american plasser trains doing all sorts of repair/maintenance. it does touch that little kid in you where you could watch a bulldozer go for hours just pushing dirt around, then do it yourself in the sand box for just as long!

 

it always boggles me when i think of the infrastructure of japan's rail. while it does not cover massive long distances, its density, complexity, and quality are amazing.

 

jeff