Bullet Trains

In the mid-1960s, Japan inaugurated high-speed rail service between Tokyo and Osaka. These fast trains sped along at approximately 135 miles per hour (217 km/h). Because of their sleek design, they became known as bullet trains although they're officially known as Shinkansen, or "new main line," in Japanese.

During the 1980s, France, Britain, and Germany also developed their high-speed rail networks that now expand across Europe.

A variety of technologies are utilized to allow trains to achieve such high speeds. Although Maglev (magnetic levitation) technology is close to implementation, most high-speed systems take advantage of lower-tech solutions such as longer curves, trains that are optimized for length and weight, and eliminating automobiles crossing tracks.

In addition to high-speed rail service that currently connects New York and Washington, D.C., there are quite a few high-speed rail projects planned for the U.S. The Federal Railroad Administration works with states to implement high-speed routes. Potential future routes include:

• Boston to Washington, D.C.
• California - from Sacramento and San Francisco to San Diego
• Detroit to Chicago
• Upstate New York
• Charlotte to Washington D.C.
• Seattle to Portland
• Chicago to St. Louis
• Chicago to Minneapolis