Japan’s Tokaido Shinkansen celebrates 60 years of speed; The service has carried 7 billion passengers since its opening

Tokaido Shinkansen commemorated 60 years of service at JR Tokyo Station on Tuesday.

The line has carried approximately 7 billion passengers to date. It started a new start with the cutting of the ribbon, attended by many railway fans, among others. Nozomi No. 1, the first Shinkansen train of the day, sounded its horn and departed at 6 a.m. from platform No. 19, the same platform where the first Shinkansen train departed 60 years ago.

“We will work hard to make the Tokaido Shinkansen line even more beloved as we move into the future,” said Shunsuke Niwa, president of Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai).

“It’s really cool and amazing that the Shinkansen still travels at high speed and can carry so many people,” said a fifth-grade primary school student who came to the ceremony with his father from Mitaka, Tokyo.