About those fast trains

Shinkansen might be fast but when you are in tunnels most of the time, it begins to feel a bit claustrophobic. I wondered why so many tunnels. See Google AI’s answer below. That “tunnel boom” is real!

“Japan’s mountainous terrain and the need for high-speed, efficient rail travel led to the extensive use of tunnels for Shinkansen lines, allowing trains to bypass difficult geography and minimize travel time. 

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

• Mountainous Terrain:
  Japan is a mountainous country, and Shinkansen lines often need to traverse or bypass these mountains for efficient travel. 
• Minimizing Travel Time:
  Tunnels allow trains to go directly through mountains instead of winding around them, significantly reducing travel time. 
• Tunnel Boom Mitigation:
  The high speed of Shinkansen trains can cause a “tunnel boom” as they enter and exit tunnels, so the trains are designed to minimize this noise and potential damage. 
• Aerodynamic Design:
  The Shinkansen trains are designed with a long, streamlined nose to help reduce the effects of tunnel boom. 
• Seikan Tunnel:
  The Seikan Tunnel, a major undersea tunnel, connects the island of Hokkaidowith the main island of Honshu, demonstrating the engineering feats required for Shinkansen construction. 
• Examples:
  On the 500 km route between Tokyo and Morioka, there are nearly 120 distinct tunnels. 
• Safety:
  Japan’s Shinkansen network is known for its safety, with no passenger deaths or injuries due to derailments. 
• Other Infrastructure:
  Shinkansen routes also make extensive use of elevated viaducts to go over obstacles, further separating them from ground-based traffic”