Tokaido Shinkansen

Tōkaidō Shinkansen
A JR Central N700S Series train running Tokaido Shinkansen, September 2021
Overview
Native name東海道新幹線
StatusOperational
Owner JR Central
LocaleTokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Shiga, Kyoto, and Osaka Prefectures
Termini
Stations17
Color on map     Blue (#1153af)
Service
TypeHigh-speed rail (Shinkansen)
SystemShinkansen
Services
Operator(s)JR Central
Depot(s)Tokyo, Mishima, Nagoya, Osaka
Rolling stock
History
OpenedOctober 1, 1964 (1964-10-01)
Technical
Line length515.4 km (320.3 mi)
Number of tracksDouble-track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 25 kV 60 Hz AC
Operating speed285 km/h (177 mph)
SignallingCab signalling
Train protection systemATC-NS
Maximum incline2.0%
Route map

0:00
Tokyo
0:07
Shinagawa
Tama River
0:18
Shin-Yokohama
Sagami River
0:35
Odawara
0:44
Atami
0:54
Mishima
1:08
Shin-Fuji
Fuji River
1:08
Shizuoka
Abe River
Ooi River
1:39
Kakegawa
Tenryū River
1:34
Hamamatsu
JR Central Hamamatsu works spur
Lake Hamana
1:24
Toyohashi
1:30
Mikawa-Anjō
1:35
Nagoya
1:59
Gifu-Hashima
2:18
Maibara
2:09
Kyōto
2:24
Shin-Ōsaka
Times shown are fastest timetabled journey from Tokyo (HH:MM).

The Tōkaidō Shinkansen (Japanese: 東海道新幹線; lit.'East coast route, new main line') is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the San'yō Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opening in 1964, running between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka, it was the world's first high-speed rail line, and it remains one of the world's busiest. Since 1987, it has been operated by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), prior to that by Japanese National Railways (JNR).

There are three types of services on the line: from fastest to slowest, they are the limited-stop Nozomi, the semi-fast Hikari, and the all-stop Kodama. Many Nozomi and Hikari trains continue onward to the San'yō Shinkansen, going as far as Fukuoka's Hakata Station. The different services operate at mostly the same speed.

The line was named a joint Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark and IEEE Milestone by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in 2000.