The construction of the JR Tokai has been approved, which will "run" at 480 kilometers per hour!
This new network, which will extend over a distance of 290 kilometers, will result in the distance being covered in just 40 minutes, approximately halving the journey time compared to the Shinkansen, the famous "bullet train", which travels at a speed of 320 kilometers per hour.
The Shinkansen celebrated its 50th anniversary a few weeks ago, but it looks like it will be replaced by its newer and... faster competitor.
The maglev technology behind this engineering feat uses mechanical levitation to lift the train into the air, a few centimeters above the driving system, allowing frictionless movement with the help of magnetic fields, reports a Business Insider article.
The construction company, Central Japan Railway Co., hopes to have construction work completed by 2027, while an extension to Osaka is also planned by 2045.
The name "Tokai" is a Japanese word, meaning "East Sea".

