While Europe saw the first high-speed* railway and extensive development continues there, where the bullet train really caught on has been along the East Coast of Japan. Green Car Congress relayed an announcement from KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.) about their development of a new high speed train.
* Note: “High-speed rail is generally defined as passenger rail running at speeds in excess of 125 mph (200 km/h).”
The EfSET (Environmental friendly Super Express Train) is expected to have a top speed of 350 kph (217 mpg). The current Shinkansen bullet train has a top speed of approximately 300 kph (186 mph).
The EfSET will have a new aerodynamic design that should result in less vibration and noise. The train will use regenerative braking to improve its efficiency. Kawasaki Heavy is currently finalizing the concept design, and will complete the design process by the end of fiscal 2009 (March 2010).
KHI plans to market the train globally. Over the next 20 years, worldwide deployment of high speed rail systems is expected to add 10,000 km of high-speed rail, according to the company. For instance, sources in China have said that there is developing a bullet train for the 1,318-km (819-mile) Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway that will run at 380 kph (236 mph). Other development of high-speed rail is occurring in Russia, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. There even is discussion of a high-speed railway along West Coast of the United States.
