I am Japanese. I'm very honored to be compared in this way to the TGV, the French bullet train. Cheers to the technology in both countries!

Meanwhile in Romania there's a news article that says: ''Last year the total delay time of trains summed up to 8 years''

as a french person i can say for a fact france and japan always have admired each other, and i can tell u thats still the case nowadays, the tgv and the shinkansen are both amazing trains and to be honest i couldnt tell which one is better! Cheers from france and hi to all the japanese ppl ^^

Shinkansen has a perfect safety record since the early 1960s. This is a source of great pride for the Japanese.

France: Builds automated trains that go at 300+ km/h on regular duty Japan: Building Maglev trains that'll go 500+ km/h and be in regular service by 2027 Germany: Changes definition of delay to increase punctuality rates

You forgot to mention Australia's high speed trains. Huge flat country. Melbourne to Sydney is around 720km, each city approx 5m people. Our trains make this journey in only 11hrs. An extraordinary average speed of 65km/hr. Plus is only costs about 1.5x more than the 1hr flight. Unforgivable oversight really.

The French really know how to build a train. But man... The Japanese ones look like spaceships.

I've been on the TGV once. And it's so freaking stable/comfy. I could even photograph the sunset in northern France while it was going 300 kph (if not faster) without any effort at all.

Thanks for using the metric system. Makes things so much easier to understand

5:29 Damn dude, get behind the railing! 😰

Having experienced both, I'm going to say the shinkansen beats out the TGV. We don't even need to discuss the technological systems of either trains. Just the Japanese standard of service and punctuality alone is unmatched.

I am Japanese and what I love about Shinkansen is the whole experience. Going to station, get regional Bento lunch box and sweets etc and get on the train and enjoy the view in comfort. Caught some trains in Europe as well but it felt it’s just a way to get point A to point B. Sure, there are faster trains than Shinkansen but I don’t think Shinkansen needs to compete with others with speed because it already exists as Shinkansen experience package.

Apologies for the re-upload, this was due to an error which I hadn't noticed until after it was live.

The actual experience of being a passenger on the Shinkansen is incredible. In terms of comfort, space, frequency and efficiency it's a million miles ahead of everything

Why compare ? The reason why in France we choose the TGV is we want a train that can use classic rails and not only TGV rails. So the TGV can go in high speed on TGV rails, but also slower on classic existing rail network. The context of the technolgy choice its important. France had a huge train network before TGV.

For me, that original orange TGV is the sexiest of the lot. Man, what a beautiful machine

The Japanese shinkansen is in a league of its own. It's impeccable timetable, aesthetic and courtesy of staff make it the best HSR network in the world.

The Shinkansen isn't just amazing with regards to the train technology. It's also the frequency of service. These trains run every 15-20 minutes. It's like a municipal commuter train network, except long distance at a high rate of speed.

Here, in Romania, speed trains date back in the roman empire era and we use the same machinery still!! So not only you get a historical ride, with no more than 50 km/h, in straight line, downhill, but you also experience how our ancestors used to commute, in the very same conditions! It's an unique way of torture nevertheless!

For those of us who ridden the "Shinkansen" it reaaly is in a class of it's own. I rode the Nozomi Super Express from Tokyo to Hiroshima and back again. 300+ Km/hr makes the journey relatively quick and very comfortable. I note that the train accelerated up to cruising speed quite quickly.

I’m an engineer at Eurostar, and I can tell you that the french TMST is an amazing train. Considering it’s age (although been refurbished) is still going strong! It’s really weird working on such old technology then working on the new train, being the E320 Velaro.

I’d got for the Shinkansen just for the scenery. The TGV is fine but travels over a lot of flat farmland. Japan has those mountains and rolling hills when you break out of the urban centers, and once you get near Hakone, Mt. Fuji makes a great backdrop. Plus the engineering challenge for building in densely populated, mountainous, natural disaster prone geography is interesting in its own right.

Check out my TGV Duplex and other high-speed train trip reports: ukposts.info/have/v-deo/fXeLbXyJkZ2lxX0.html

The reason why Shinkansen is the best HSR in the world is because of the amount they invest in the system since there is so much demand for it. I travel for business between Tokyo and Osaka at least once a month, and in a train based society like Japan, riding the HSR is more convenient than flying in my opinion.

that safety records is incredible

Love Shinkansen with the Rail Pass in Japan when you can use it as much as you want :) there is no better way to see Japan.

I got to enjoy the Shinkansen when I went to Japan in May/June and I tell ya it is the smoothest and quietest system ever, even better than the 787 Dreamliner and the Tesla Model Y

You can recognize any great nation by its ability to accomplish long term project for the benefits of its people

Its funny that people still call the Shinkansen “Bullet Trains” even though current models looks more like a flatten platypus. Goes to show how iconic those first designs were.

one thing to take into account is that a trip with the Shinkansen is quite a bit more expensive than in the TGV. A trip in the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka does 500km in 2hours cost you around 100€ second class and 200€ for the first class. Whereas a trip in TGV from Paris to Lyon does 465km in 1H50 cost you around 50€ second class and 60€ to 70€ for the first class (tho price varies a lot for the TGV you can often see tickers for those prices). so even tho the TGV is often not on time, it (imo) balances out with the cheaper price compared to the shinkansen.

This video didn't told us whether the TGV or The Shinkansen is better, but it made me realise one thing... Trains are always nostalgic, amazing and the future.

It is indeed so great to hear everything in Metric units. This video was indeed made with international audience in mind. Good work!

The British were using steam train up to 1970..

Meanwhile in the UK... 1960's: "We don't need trains, we need motorways" 2019: "We don't need high-speed rail, waste o' money" and "It will ruin my view"

Thank you, this is an excellent video and explanation of the growth of high speed rail.

I just want to thank you for your magnificent channel it is very accurate ,reach in detail and you present it very well

The AGV was sold to NTV in Italy, which is a private company. Trenitalia is the statal operator, which uses its high speed trains, called Frecciarossa.

Thanks again Paul for this interesting information. Amazing to see that the Japanese bullet trains are SO safe AND fast. Great technology.

I have ridden all the French TGVs on all routes since 1986 and I was always pleased by its comfort. The French TGVs are kore comfortable as they have more ergonomic seats (something that even the recent Hitachis delivered in the UK do not seem to understand). I have taken the TGV at Aix-en-Provence and 3h30 hours later I was entering the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, a distance of 750 km and I could have a good price in first class where the seats are large and very ergonomic. I have never seen sych a pleasant ride. Even by plane you cannot beat that.

French here: We are glad to have the TGV here and i think that the two trains have quite similar performances. But man TGV (and trains here) have always delays or reason to be canceled at the last minute. So Japan for the win (Cheers to all japenese, we love you guys)

Shinkansen is super on-time train and have zero fatalities on major accident. That's Japanese Technology at finest

It's Chuo Shinkansen, not Chou. Chuo means central in Japanese by the way

TGV has a great record for safety, reliability and comfort. But it cannot be compared to the Shinkansen, which is in a league of its own in terms of punctuality and sheer number of services. At peak times they run every few minutes, more like a super fast metro.

The early boxy TGV is the sexiest train ever designed

They are both amazing feats of engineering. I have been lucky enough to experience both and have to say I liked the interior of the TGV more, but the ride and sheer speed of the Shinkansen Nozomi was incredible. The interiors are styled like aircraft cabins, but consequently are a bit dark. I also found them a bit clinical, but that is a matter of personal taste. I wouldn't want to say one is better than the other; both fulfil a purpose and are tailored exactly to the transport needs of their respective countries. In terms of styling, I prefer the exterior design and shape of the TGV, but it is more conventional than the modern Shinkansen sets, which look more like toboggans than trains!

Maybe the biggest difference between the two of them is that Shinkansen arrives and departs on time.

Love how you brought back the background music from the nuclear missile video at 2:33

Thank You for an excellent video. Extremely informative and entertaining.

Nice music! Good vibes! I was on shinkansen recently between Tokyo and Osaka, and its great train!

Couldnt find a clean shirt for this one Paul? As allways great video, havn't seen this one so thanks for the re upload

Love your videos! I have always been curious about how satellites maneuver in space and raise their orbit, could be an interesting video topic... Keep up the great work!

お互いに意識し合って速い、安全、快適な列車を作ってくれたら嬉しいよね❗️

Nice one, Paul. I do like the comparisons of modern technologies outside of the space industry. Regardless, thank you again for some great content.

I tried Shinkansen for first time last week. It is a great train combined with its legendary punctuality, but inside it feels a bit like in a plane with these small windows. And you can hear a lot of rolling noise. I prefer the interior of the TGV which feels more comfy and it has big panoramic windows. Also it seems more quiet.

Stunning designs, both of them - they are so impressive 👍

Excellent vid, very informative.

The Japanese trains look like spaceships, and the French trains look like 1980s sports cars. They are both awesome looking.

Both are incredible feats of engineering. I've been on the TGV and that was incredible, now my lifes dream is to ride the Shinkansen

I love Curious Droid videos. I've never used the Shinkansen, but have often used the TGV. It's amazing. You're doing 200 mph, but the train is so stable that you can get up and buy a coffee without reaching for a handhold. Now, French friends say that depends which line you're on 🙂

For those who have plans to travel north in Tohoku region, try to hop on the Hayabusa E5/E6/H5. They are only-reservation trains, but Rail pass users can get reservations on them. The top speed on these are 320kmh.👍 Bonus to those heading to Akita, the train will split/detach at Morioka and travel slowly on local line in reverse till end station Akita(and viceversa) 👌

Travelling in TGV is really great, the peak of comfort and convenience. Safe and quiet. Never been in a Shinkansen but I’d really like to! Hopefully I’ll be able to visit Japan soon

The current world speed record for a thain on Steel Wheels on rails is held by the Alstom's TGV at speed 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph), achieved on 3 April 2007.

Excellent summary thank you :)

Impressive research, as usual!

Having ridden both and several others, my conclusion is that the best high speed rail experience is a German ICE-3 on the French LGV Est. I rode a Shinkansen Series 700 in Nozomi service in 2007, and the spartan interiors seating 6 across with solid materials on floors, walls, and ceilings combined with my seat being directly above a traction motor meant that my bullet train ride was the loudest high speed rail experience of my life. Naturally, the "green car" or 1st class service provides a more spacious and quieter ride, though I did not splurge on tickets for that. I rode both the TGV and the ICE on the same line when I lived in Germany, and both consists provided a silky smooth ride at 200 MPH across the countryside of eastern France. Deutsche Bahn has not yet opened any 200-MPH high speed lines, so the only place to ride an ICE train faster than 186 MPH is on the French LGV Est. So, it really boils down to whether SNCF or Deutsche Bahn provides a more pleasant experience on board, and the German train wins hands down. The difference is in the dining car. The TGV's cafe' car serves plastic-wrapped sandwiches, candy, salty snacks, and a variety of bottled beverages, alcoholic and otherwise. On either side of the kitchenette are some high tables for passengers to stand around and enjoy their lackluster treats if they're not inclined to return to their seats and use the tray tables. Now that's one thing the French did well. The tray tables are on a separate column from the seats ahead, so no matter how hard you slam your tray table up or down, you won't disturb the passenger seated ahead of you. That comfort is negated by the slanted headrests, making napping a bit uncomfortable for tall passengers. Seriously, the tops of the seat backs are not level. It's dumb. Meanwhile, on board the ICE 3 that DB uses on the international services to Paris, the dining car has tables, a waiter, a printed menu that changes every month, and the changes are made by celebrity chefs. I once was running late to Gare de l'Est, and boarded the train less than a minute before the doors were closed for departure. As soon as I had found my seat and shown my ticket to the conductor, I walked straight to the dining car, plopped down in a cushy seat, ordered a fresh salad, a gourmet entree cooked on board, and a beer served in a proper glass, then proceeded to enjoy this lovely meal as the train clicked and clacked through the suburbs of Paris, entered the LGV, and accelerated to 200 MPH. There's no comparison really, from one who has also ridden high speed trains in Spain, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. The best of all is a Deutsche Bahn ICE-3 in France.

France’s high speed rail system has one huge advantage over the Japanese system in that the existing, pre-high-speed rail network was already in standard gauge. This allows TGV trains to enter city centers using the existing rail network. In Japan however, as mentioned in the video, the existing rail network uses a different gauge and thus trains from either network can’t use the other’s infrastructure. This makes providing high speed rail access into urban ares a much more complicated endeavor in Japan than in France.

nicely done; appreciate the historical perspective; very interested in the cut-off point (3 or 4 hours?) when air travel becomes a better option.

L-waves are the most significant and damaging waves after an earthquake rupture. Loved this video! 👏 amazing work!

Rock Island had the Rockets, but the Zephyr was from the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy.

Great video. Just a friendly reminder that it’s the “Chuo (pronounced Chu-ō”) Shinkansen”. Chuo in Japanese means “central”.

Very informative video. I lived in Japan for 15 years and now started tour company call hikari-partners to take tours to Japan. I take JR pass and give an opportunity to my clients to explore great rail network. They just love it.

I am so glad you converted KPH to MPH. It confused me so much, but it helps significantly to add the conversions, thank you.

Shinkansen without doubt .......I like Shinkansen because untill today Nobody killed in an accident and it helps developing countries to develop high speed train lines....

I haven't travelled on the TGV. But I travelled on the Shinkansen. Personally I think it is less about the trains and more about the service. I don’t know about the French service but the Japanese is unlike anything I used to know in terms of punctuality. During my stay in Japan I used the trains quite heavily as I purchased the Japanese Rail Pass. Only once was a train late. Usually they arrive on the second. That is absolutely astonishing. It was also super easy to switch trains and lanes as you would never miss a connection.

Great Video. I plan to go to Japan next year and check out the Shinkansen. Great futuristic design. Love it!

Absolutely, France and Japan did a top notch job for high speed train innovations! I live in Texas, and there are plans to make a bullet train connecting Dallas to Houston, using the Japanese shinkansen! Just goes to show how well they've mastered the bullet train!

Both have a very good safety record and in comparison to most countries, the punctuality and service provided is excellent. There isn’t a better train than another, they both perform admirably at their tasks.

Great video. I wish one day I can travel in a magnetic train.

The main point with high speed train in France is that it's quicker than the plane for inner flights. With the TGV you go from downtown to downtown, with plane you have to connect from the airports to the city. Train is time and pollution saving, and you can use internet in the train and also avoid humiliating body search at the airport

This is a very informative video depicting the history of high-speed railway and in particular its development in two countries. Big thank you! Ironically, it doesn't answer the question posed in the video's title :-)

Got to experience the Shinkansen in 2007. Very, very impressive system. And for Japan's ridiculous density, it makes a load of sense. No wonder it was jam-packed with customers.

Man, thank you for making these videos with always cool topics and stellar content. It's truly appreciated!

I rode the shinkansen from Osaka to the Mt Fuji area back in 2006. Absolutely amazing and smooth. At one point we were going around a banked turn and I didn't know it until I saw the water in my glass sitting at an angle. My window was showing dirt rushing by and the opposite side of the carriage was showing sky. Wow!

I've ridden the Paris - Lyon - Milan TGV on several occasions, it's smooth and fast with very low noise. In Italy, I found the Frecciarossa and Italo NTV were likewise excellent trains. All of these operated at the 300 km/h (186 mph) limit for extended distances. The Eurostar had somewhat uncomfortable side sway in the last car at speed. Riding the Shinkansen is very high on my wish list.

10:08 Prototype 01 "Patrick" built 1978 still runs in regular service in 2019! Hurry up to see this amazing historic train before it is retired soon!

I don't know what to say? The Japanese Shinkansen and the French TGV are both very awasome, safe and legendary high speed express trains. I love them both!!!

Thanks for the metrics! I'm not antique, so I was also pleased to grasp the numbers! Metrics only!

Très bien documenté!

The British using steam train. The Japanese and the French was using high-speed train already. like the documentary said. the French were using The Electric high-speed train since the 1950s. Not the(tgv)

"No fatal accidents" is uttered by a man seemingly standing between the safety fence and a moving train at 5:32

I caught a shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka and then on a local train to scientific site. There was a 2 minute change at Osaka which I questioned as being "crazy" after a 400 mile journey as the train could be late; my Japanese colleague looked confused. Needless to say, the train pulled into Osaka to the second, I walked across the platform onto the local train, and it left precisely on time.

In a perfect world you would upload videos every day

5:29 For a quick second I thought "Man, that ain't safe. He's on the wrong side of the guardrail!"

The big goal of AGV is that as it was sold to a private company (NTV) it broke the Trenitalia monopoly on italian railroads

I would love to see and ride one of these. That engineering is incredible

great video, is like to suggest that you could make a video on the BR APT train

I love the shinkzansen but as i grew up in France, and was quite the Thomas the tank engine fan, so to me i will always love the TGV more than any other train.

I would like to say that I've ridden both of those on multiple times (living in France and usual trip to Japan) The japanese train, despite using older technology looks newer, cleaner, and has a much better service, there is also a wagoon for make up, cleaning, toilets, and a smoking very well ventilated area. The speed is just similar, so for the reasons above, taking the shinkansen has always been a much better ride for me as a regular customer.

Some really catchy names. The DRG Class SVT 877 Hamburg Flyer is my favourite

Been on the TGV a few times. Smooth ride, silent, comfy, you barely feel any acceleration but if you look out the window, you realize you're doing 300kph. I keep hearing/reading marvels about the Shinkansen. Gotta ride in it one day!