Japan's Railways (Paperback)

Dave Spoonley

ISBN 10: 1802824618 / ISBN 13: 9781802824612

Published by Key Publishing Ltd, Stamford, 2023

About this Item

Paperback. Japan's first railway opened between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1872. Its railways were nationalised in the early 1900s and continued to expand, with new line construction continuing through the 1980s. However, the 1980s also brought rising costs and falling revenues, so the state-owned network was split into seven different companies. Each company owns and maintains its section of tracks and operates the trains. This book, the first of two volumes, takes the reader on a journey from Hokkaido to Chubu, showcasing the lesser-known, and lesser-visited, lines. Spanning the years between 2004 and 2016, it is fully illustrated with more than 170 images and demonstrates how the lines have changed during this time, while showcasing the various trains and tracks that cover Japan. Beautifully illustrated, this book is a product of seeral visits made by the author to Japan over a 14-year period. During this time, new trains had been introduced, old trains retired; new lines had opened, some lines sadly have closed, and several fine new museums had opened. This book looks at the changing scene of Japan's railways. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781802824612

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Japan's Railways (Paperback)
• Publisher: Key Publishing Ltd, Stamford
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1802824618
• ISBN 13: 9781802824612
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

At the start of the Menji Era Japan emerged from its hundreds of years of self-imposed isolation and modernized rapidly. Part of this modernization was the construction of railways, the first railway opened between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1872. This was followed by a rapid expansion of the network, both government and privately constructed, so by the early 20th century the bones of a national system were in place. However, by far the largest development of railways in Japan in the second half of the 20th Century has been the development of the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) network. Even before the Second World War it was recognized that the Tokaido Line between Tokyo, and the Kansai Region was reaching capacity, and the brave decision was made to construct a brand-new high-speed line on a new alignment. Beautifully illustrated, this book is a product of several visits made by the author to Japan over a 14-year period. During this time, new trains had been introduced, old trains retired; new lines had opened, some lines sadly have closed, and several fine new museums had opened. This book looks at the changing scene of Japan’s railways.