FUKUSHIMA: Japan is enthusiastically awaiting Malaysia's response to the proposed Shinkansen high speed rail (HSR) project, connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. International High-Speed Rail Association chairman Masafumi Shukuri said that he expects a firmer decision to be made after certain specifications are finalised by May. The United States is mulling the Shinkansen to connect Dallas with Houston – a distance of 385km – in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Meanwhile, East Japan Railway Company international affairs adviser Ryuji Sakamoto said the Shinkansen has proved its mettle without a single major incident"The Shinkansen is the pride of Japan since (the Tokyo Olympics in) 1964 with zero fatalities. A typical Shinkansen plying the Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka route can traverse the 515.4km in 2 hours 22 minutes, with a maximum speed of 320km per hour.

Source: New Strait Times February 08, 2020 04:30 UTC