Japan getting a new, fast train

Japan has pretty much been at the forefront of high-speed train technology since trains first came to be. And thought it's a bit of a surprise that Japanese-made trains don't hold the current speed record, I never doubt that they've got new train technology around the corner.

So I'm not surprised that Kawasaki Heavy Industries just announced that they'll be building a new rail line in Japan that will be faster than the previous record holder, the Shikansen.

The new train has a rather lame name, "The Environmentally Friendly Super Express Train," but maybe it sounds cooler in Japanese. It's accurate though. The train's top speed will be around 217 miles per hour, achieving that speed with less fuel through use of aerodynamics and light-weight materials. A regenerative braking system will capture kinetic energy in batteries for later use.

Japan has always had a great rail system, but with 10,000 new miles of track planned for the next 20 years, and these new high-speed trains, it seems they'll just be getting better.

Via Inhabitat