1 00:00:02,980 --> 00:00:05,170 Speaker 1: You're listening to a CNA podcast. 2 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,420 Speaker 1: Hi guys, I'm Teresa Tang. There are trains, then there 3 00:00:15,420 --> 00:00:16,659 Speaker 1: are trains. 4 00:00:18,590 --> 00:00:25,899 Speaker 1: Yes, and always on time. Have you ever traveled via 5 00:00:25,899 --> 00:00:29,690 Speaker 1: high speed rail? Well, one thing's for sure, it is fast. 6 00:00:30,020 --> 00:00:33,889 Speaker 1: China has become a world leader in high-speed rail infrastructure 7 00:00:33,889 --> 00:00:37,810 Speaker 1: over the past 15 years. Its network spans an incredible 8 00:00:37,810 --> 00:00:43,659 Speaker 1: 48,000 kilometers, but its dreams have outpaced reality with several 9 00:00:43,659 --> 00:00:45,939 Speaker 1: stations shuttered shortly after they opened. 10 00:00:46,549 --> 00:00:51,310 Speaker 1: Japan meanwhile has been a pioneer in rail technology for decades. 11 00:00:51,430 --> 00:00:55,130 Speaker 1: It's bullet trains changed how we think about speed and distance, 12 00:00:55,139 --> 00:00:58,509 Speaker 1: and now they're breaking new ground. Now picture this, a 13 00:00:58,509 --> 00:01:02,029 Speaker 1: train that doesn't even touch the tracks. This episode is 14 00:01:02,029 --> 00:01:04,779 Speaker 1: all about railways and the tech that we travel on 15 00:01:04,989 --> 00:01:07,069 Speaker 1: and what we can expect to see from these two 16 00:01:07,069 --> 00:01:08,989 Speaker 1: powerhouses in the years to come. 17 00:01:09,349 --> 00:01:12,709 Speaker 1: CNA's Tan Sihui joins me from Beijing and senior correspondent 18 00:01:12,709 --> 00:01:18,260 Speaker 1: Michi Ishida is in Tokyo. Hello to you both. Hi Siui, 19 00:01:18,339 --> 00:01:20,179 Speaker 1: I want to start with you. You know, when China 20 00:01:20,180 --> 00:01:23,419 Speaker 1: sets its mind to do something, there is almost nothing 21 00:01:23,419 --> 00:01:25,830 Speaker 1: that can stand in its way, and I know you've 22 00:01:25,830 --> 00:01:30,660 Speaker 1: seen firsthand, it's incredible network, it's trains, it's stations. What 23 00:01:30,660 --> 00:01:33,209 Speaker 1: was your first impression? You know, whenever I'm in China, 24 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:36,179 Speaker 1: I'm always awestruck by the innovation and the sheer scale 25 00:01:36,180 --> 00:01:37,089 Speaker 1: of things there. 26 00:01:37,709 --> 00:01:40,180 Speaker 1: I mean, even for myself, I'm in China, but I'm 27 00:01:40,180 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 1: always amazed by the things that come out of here. 28 00:01:43,099 --> 00:01:46,018 Speaker 1: So my first impression, especially coming from a small city 29 00:01:46,019 --> 00:01:49,059 Speaker 1: state like Singapore, I felt it was super fast, super 30 00:01:49,059 --> 00:01:51,940 Speaker 1: on time, just like Japan's Shinkansen which I said quite 31 00:01:51,940 --> 00:01:54,260 Speaker 1: a number of years ago. One thing that was that 32 00:01:54,260 --> 00:01:57,169 Speaker 1: I was really enthralled with was the ability to order 33 00:01:57,169 --> 00:01:59,540 Speaker 1: your food as you're on the train and you can 34 00:01:59,540 --> 00:02:01,580 Speaker 1: have the food delivered right to your seat at the 35 00:02:01,580 --> 00:02:03,779 Speaker 1: next station or so. Not a competition. 36 00:02:03,883 --> 00:02:06,553 Speaker 1: But I don't think Japan has that yet. Does Japan 37 00:02:06,553 --> 00:02:11,352 Speaker 1: have that? Japan has Ecuban, remember? every train station, it 38 00:02:11,352 --> 00:02:15,071 Speaker 1: serves special delicacies. You buy that and you enjoy it 39 00:02:15,072 --> 00:02:17,992 Speaker 1: on the train. Well, I guess, you know, one thing 40 00:02:17,992 --> 00:02:20,752 Speaker 1: for sure, China learned from the first country that developed 41 00:02:20,752 --> 00:02:23,233 Speaker 1: the high speed rail, and that is Japan. In fact, 42 00:02:23,343 --> 00:02:26,151 Speaker 1: it's believed that after Deng Xiaoping visited Japan, where he 43 00:02:26,151 --> 00:02:28,772 Speaker 1: sat on a high-speed rail train, he was very impressed, 44 00:02:29,072 --> 00:02:29,912 Speaker 1: saying it's very far. 45 00:02:30,496 --> 00:02:33,436 Speaker 1: And right after that, just two months later, the Chinese 46 00:02:33,436 --> 00:02:36,645 Speaker 1: discussed priorities for economic development with the high-speed railway part 47 00:02:36,645 --> 00:02:39,526 Speaker 1: of those discussions. And now what's most impressive is the 48 00:02:39,526 --> 00:02:43,565 Speaker 1: fact that within a short 20 years, China was able 49 00:02:43,565 --> 00:02:48,205 Speaker 1: to build the world's largest railway network stretching 45,000 kilometers 50 00:02:48,205 --> 00:02:51,766 Speaker 1: with trains reaching 400 kilometers per hour and reports have 51 00:02:51,766 --> 00:02:54,445 Speaker 1: said China has built its network faster than some of 52 00:02:54,445 --> 00:02:56,085 Speaker 1: its counterparts, even in Europe. 53 00:02:56,410 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: And it's not stopping there, it's going to continue to 54 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:04,029 Speaker 1: build railway tracks and by 2035, any Chinese city with 55 00:03:04,029 --> 00:03:07,779 Speaker 1: a population more than 500,000 will be connected to a 56 00:03:07,779 --> 00:03:12,070 Speaker 1: high-speed rail network and that's nearly double the high-speed rail 57 00:03:12,070 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 1: network that you see right now and it's trying to 58 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: become 59 00:03:15,654 --> 00:03:18,994 Speaker 1: Even faster, and who knows, it could even be faster 60 00:03:18,994 --> 00:03:22,625 Speaker 1: than airplanes in the future. So this really stems from, 61 00:03:22,835 --> 00:03:26,244 Speaker 1: you know, the thought of leadership. Chinese President Xi Jinping 62 00:03:26,244 --> 00:03:29,975 Speaker 1: once called the high-speed rail a success of independent innovation 63 00:03:29,975 --> 00:03:33,235 Speaker 1: and called for greater development to pave the way for 64 00:03:33,235 --> 00:03:37,554 Speaker 1: Chinese style modernization. An incredible vision and Si Hui you 65 00:03:37,554 --> 00:03:41,195 Speaker 1: soon discovered that for some local governments, China's high speed 66 00:03:41,195 --> 00:03:43,434 Speaker 1: rail dreams, they're not exactly reality. 67 00:03:43,899 --> 00:03:46,300 Speaker 1: You traveled to Zhengzhou in Henan province. I want you 68 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: to talk about that. It's a place where you found 69 00:03:48,619 --> 00:03:53,020 Speaker 1: abandoned or ghost stations. Why build them and then have 70 00:03:53,020 --> 00:03:56,490 Speaker 1: them just sit empty? Yeah, that's a question that I 71 00:03:56,490 --> 00:03:59,889 Speaker 1: had in my mind when we were planning this trip. 72 00:04:00,139 --> 00:04:02,580 Speaker 1: We found out that from local media reports there were 73 00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:07,089 Speaker 1: 26 of these so-called go stations which chose Zhengzhou because 74 00:04:07,089 --> 00:04:10,389 Speaker 1: it's central of China and it had one of the 75 00:04:10,389 --> 00:04:10,679 Speaker 1: highest 76 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,089 Speaker 1: number of abandoned train stations in the country with 4 77 00:04:13,089 --> 00:04:15,899 Speaker 1: of them and it's also known as a key transportation hub. 78 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,100 Speaker 1: So we decided to go to 3 of them in 79 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: July last year, that's nearly been a year. Most of 80 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: them operated for only about a year before being shut 81 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: and that was in 2017 and when we actually went there, 82 00:04:28,350 --> 00:04:31,670 Speaker 1: it's completely unbelievable. It's almost like a set of a film. 83 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: You were stuck in time, infrastructure still intact. 84 00:04:35,290 --> 00:04:38,969 Speaker 1: You see some cobwebs outside the station, you see escalator 85 00:04:38,970 --> 00:04:41,369 Speaker 1: right in there, but it's not moving. So back to 86 00:04:41,369 --> 00:04:43,890 Speaker 1: your question, why build the train stations and have them 87 00:04:43,890 --> 00:04:47,409 Speaker 1: sit empty? Well, we got our answer just by looking 88 00:04:47,410 --> 00:04:49,290 Speaker 1: around the area. When we looked around the area, there 89 00:04:49,290 --> 00:04:51,570 Speaker 1: weren't many houses or buildings nearby. 90 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:55,799 Speaker 1: So that means that there isn't high footfall. One analyst 91 00:04:55,799 --> 00:04:58,109 Speaker 1: we spoke with says it really well. It's a chicken 92 00:04:58,109 --> 00:05:01,190 Speaker 1: and egg issue. Should you have a chicken first or 93 00:05:01,190 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: the egg? And in this case, the chicken hasn't laid 94 00:05:04,359 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: enough eggs at the moment. So what the farmer decided 95 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:07,299 Speaker 1: to do. 96 00:05:07,704 --> 00:05:10,584 Speaker 1: I make the chicken house and hope that the chicken 97 00:05:10,584 --> 00:05:13,984 Speaker 1: grows and somehow lays enough eggs. So in other words, 98 00:05:14,105 --> 00:05:17,344 Speaker 1: it's investment by the Chinese government far ahead of the 99 00:05:17,345 --> 00:05:20,234 Speaker 1: basic calculation of the return on investment. There are hopes 100 00:05:20,234 --> 00:05:22,665 Speaker 1: that there will be more buildings in the future. 101 00:05:23,010 --> 00:05:25,779 Speaker 1: And secondly, you have to go back in time for this, 102 00:05:25,790 --> 00:05:29,429 Speaker 1: which another analyst, Dan Wang, she's a China director of 103 00:05:29,428 --> 00:05:33,140 Speaker 1: Eurasia Group, she explained this. For the high speed railway, 104 00:05:33,350 --> 00:05:38,790 Speaker 1: it was a poster child for China's infrastructure, uh, and 105 00:05:38,790 --> 00:05:42,230 Speaker 1: the so called Chinese miracle. Uh, it was quite helpful 106 00:05:42,230 --> 00:05:44,269 Speaker 1: to improve the local economy. 107 00:05:44,515 --> 00:05:48,125 Speaker 1: And improve the welfare of the average person in China. 108 00:05:48,535 --> 00:05:53,445 Speaker 1: But uh during the hype of the infrastructure spending, almost 109 00:05:53,445 --> 00:05:57,053 Speaker 1: every single county was planning to get connected in this 110 00:05:57,053 --> 00:06:02,974 Speaker 1: high speed railway network, which was clearly uh way above 111 00:06:02,975 --> 00:06:08,654 Speaker 1: what the market can sustain. So as a result, now 112 00:06:08,654 --> 00:06:11,415 Speaker 1: we're looking at a lot of the wasted investment. 113 00:06:12,010 --> 00:06:15,450 Speaker 1: Michio, Japan, it's so well known for its high speed rail. 114 00:06:15,488 --> 00:06:18,890 Speaker 1: It's Shinkansen train system, and the one that links Tokyo 115 00:06:18,890 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: and Osaka is the busiest in Japan. It's the oldest 116 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: high-speed rail line in the world. First off, how important 117 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,179 Speaker 1: are these bullet trains in Japanese life? OK, well, Teresa, 118 00:06:29,410 --> 00:06:31,169 Speaker 1: allow me to give you a bit of history. 119 00:06:31,519 --> 00:06:37,299 Speaker 1: The Shinkansen went into operation in October 1964 between Tokyo 120 00:06:37,299 --> 00:06:39,859 Speaker 1: and Osaka to make it in time for the first 121 00:06:39,859 --> 00:06:43,029 Speaker 1: Tokyo Olympic Games. Remember, we had another Olympic Games recently. 122 00:06:43,140 --> 00:06:44,859 Speaker 1: It was the first in the world to run at 123 00:06:44,859 --> 00:06:48,500 Speaker 1: a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, and as the 124 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:53,510 Speaker 1: network expanded, Japan national railway was privatized today. 125 00:06:53,575 --> 00:06:58,515 Speaker 1: The Tokyo Osaka route is operated by JR Central. Now, 126 00:06:58,524 --> 00:07:03,284 Speaker 1: this route is the most profitable, stopping at Yokohama, Japan's 127 00:07:03,285 --> 00:07:08,364 Speaker 1: second most populated city, Nagoya, which is near where Toyota Motors, 128 00:07:08,445 --> 00:07:13,954 Speaker 1: the world's largest carmaker, is based, and Kyoto, Japan's Asian capital, 129 00:07:14,065 --> 00:07:15,524 Speaker 1: flooded with tourists. 130 00:07:16,010 --> 00:07:20,450 Speaker 1: Now the bullet trains competitions are airline companies with many 131 00:07:20,450 --> 00:07:23,850 Speaker 1: flights offered between Tokyo and Osaka, but for a short 132 00:07:23,850 --> 00:07:29,970 Speaker 1: distance of 550 kilometers, the vast majority choose the Shinkansen 133 00:07:29,970 --> 00:07:34,929 Speaker 1: rather than flying. Flying is actually an hour quicker, but 134 00:07:34,929 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: unlike the airport, you don't have to go through security. 135 00:07:38,489 --> 00:07:41,049 Speaker 1: You don't have to book in advance as there's the 136 00:07:41,049 --> 00:07:43,290 Speaker 1: unreserved section on the Shinkansen. 137 00:07:43,630 --> 00:07:45,820 Speaker 1: But you might have to stand if you can't find 138 00:07:45,820 --> 00:07:49,980 Speaker 1: a seat. From Tokyo, you can hop on from a 139 00:07:49,980 --> 00:07:54,940 Speaker 1: Tokyo station or Shinagawa station. Both are in Tokyo. The 140 00:07:54,940 --> 00:07:59,529 Speaker 1: fastest Nozomi Express runs every 10 minutes, and it's punctual. 141 00:08:00,059 --> 00:08:05,049 Speaker 1: In 2023, the average delay was 1 minute 30 seconds, 142 00:08:05,380 --> 00:08:09,100 Speaker 1: and it can carry over 1300 passengers at one time. 143 00:08:09,579 --> 00:08:14,140 Speaker 1: During its 60 year history, there's been no casualties from 144 00:08:14,140 --> 00:08:17,980 Speaker 1: bullet train accidents. And you know, at these train stations, 145 00:08:18,019 --> 00:08:21,380 Speaker 1: you can transit to other train lines. So it's also convenient. 146 00:08:21,609 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: And one more thing, so he was mentioning about hot 147 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,989 Speaker 1: lunches served on their bullet trains, but in Japan, yeah, 148 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:32,039 Speaker 1: there are women with trolleys coming and serving food. They're 149 00:08:32,039 --> 00:08:35,690 Speaker 1: not hot though, but there are ayen or lunch boxes served, 150 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,799 Speaker 1: you pull the string and it heats up. How's that? 151 00:08:38,809 --> 00:08:44,799 Speaker 1: Very cool. It sounds so convenient and very clean safety record. 152 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: What's not to like? Sometimes when I ride the MRT 153 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,159 Speaker 1: railway system here in 154 00:08:49,205 --> 00:08:52,195 Speaker 1: Singapore, I have to say. I think about the kilometers 155 00:08:52,195 --> 00:08:55,034 Speaker 1: that these trains clock every day, day in, day out, 156 00:08:55,114 --> 00:08:57,994 Speaker 1: the number of passengers they carry, the overall wear and 157 00:08:57,994 --> 00:09:01,955 Speaker 1: tear of these machines, and Michi, obviously that's something Japanese 158 00:09:01,955 --> 00:09:05,515 Speaker 1: officials think about too in the context of the Shinkansen 159 00:09:05,515 --> 00:09:08,694 Speaker 1: because maintenance, right? It's a huge part of keeping this 160 00:09:08,695 --> 00:09:12,994 Speaker 1: 60 year old system running. That's correct. Maintenance is the 161 00:09:12,994 --> 00:09:16,755 Speaker 1: key to its safety, and I actually witnessed the careful 162 00:09:16,799 --> 00:09:20,909 Speaker 1: Detailed inspection conducted by JR Central workers at one of 163 00:09:20,909 --> 00:09:28,659 Speaker 1: their depots in Tokyo. They check signals, electricity circuits, cars, doors, brakes, 164 00:09:28,869 --> 00:09:32,070 Speaker 1: and the body of the train every 2 days, and 165 00:09:32,070 --> 00:09:37,189 Speaker 1: transport authorities perform a similar inspection every 45 days, every 166 00:09:37,190 --> 00:09:40,989 Speaker 1: 20 months. Parts such as wheels and brakes are actually 167 00:09:40,989 --> 00:09:44,229 Speaker 1: taken apart for detailed examination. All. 168 00:09:44,424 --> 00:09:49,255 Speaker 1: Components are expected thoroughly about once in 40 months or 169 00:09:49,255 --> 00:09:54,734 Speaker 1: after the Shinkansen has traveled 1.6 million kilometers. There are 170 00:09:54,734 --> 00:09:59,224 Speaker 1: inspections by humans and by machines at different facilities, and 171 00:09:59,224 --> 00:10:04,554 Speaker 1: JR Central has been integrating various technologies to operate Shinkansen safely. 172 00:10:04,784 --> 00:10:08,103 Speaker 1: Take a listen to Mr. Tomoyuki Minami. He's the general 173 00:10:08,104 --> 00:10:11,854 Speaker 1: manager of Technology planning department of JR Central. 174 00:10:12,710 --> 00:10:17,390 Speaker 2: So we are looking at cutting edge technologies such as 175 00:10:17,390 --> 00:10:22,549 Speaker 2: AI or robotics that are emerging every day now. So 176 00:10:22,549 --> 00:10:28,119 Speaker 2: we are working to incorporate them into our tokkaido Shinkans 177 00:10:28,119 --> 00:10:35,390 Speaker 2: system for efficiency. For example, we are developing an automatic 178 00:10:35,390 --> 00:10:40,710 Speaker 2: train operation system or automated inspection system. 179 00:10:41,340 --> 00:10:44,150 Speaker 1: So, one thing I love as a journalist is when 180 00:10:44,150 --> 00:10:46,739 Speaker 1: you get feedback from people who have seen or heard 181 00:10:46,739 --> 00:10:50,409 Speaker 1: your reports, and your report did exactly that. I was online, 182 00:10:50,469 --> 00:10:54,869 Speaker 1: I saw your story received about 350,000 views online. 183 00:10:55,159 --> 00:10:58,049 Speaker 1: And I know a viewer reached out to you and said, 184 00:10:58,299 --> 00:11:00,700 Speaker 1: you know, wait a second, a lot of these stations 185 00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:04,489 Speaker 1: are actually reopening, and then you decided to go back 186 00:11:04,489 --> 00:11:08,099 Speaker 1: to Zhengzhou. What did you find? Yeah, indeed. So shortly 187 00:11:08,099 --> 00:11:10,900 Speaker 1: after I talked about the story on LinkedIn, that viewer 188 00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:13,940 Speaker 1: reached out and and said, hey, you know what, those 189 00:11:13,940 --> 00:11:17,099 Speaker 1: stations you you visited are reopening and this is just 190 00:11:17,099 --> 00:11:18,159 Speaker 1: shortly after. 191 00:11:18,215 --> 00:11:21,445 Speaker 1: The story aired about 1 or 2 months after. And 192 00:11:21,445 --> 00:11:23,885 Speaker 1: so I spoke to my editors and they said, you know, 193 00:11:24,005 --> 00:11:26,005 Speaker 1: of course you have to go back so that you 194 00:11:26,005 --> 00:11:29,125 Speaker 1: can complete this story. What I saw when I went 195 00:11:29,125 --> 00:11:31,895 Speaker 1: there it was quite amazing because I stepped off the 196 00:11:31,895 --> 00:11:35,944 Speaker 1: train into that train station, which I had previously been to. 197 00:11:36,125 --> 00:11:39,114 Speaker 1: I had seen that it was closed previously and now 198 00:11:39,114 --> 00:11:41,155 Speaker 1: everything was open, so it was quite unbelievable. 199 00:11:41,429 --> 00:11:44,369 Speaker 1: So everything that stood still in time was working again. 200 00:11:44,419 --> 00:11:47,619 Speaker 1: It wasn't empty at all. There were staff like train conductors. 201 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,380 Speaker 1: I spoke to one of them at Nantao Station and 202 00:11:50,380 --> 00:11:52,460 Speaker 1: she said that the station has brought a lot of 203 00:11:52,460 --> 00:11:55,140 Speaker 1: advantages to residents like making it more convenient for them 204 00:11:55,140 --> 00:11:57,900 Speaker 1: to go to the airport in Zhengzhou. But for at 205 00:11:57,900 --> 00:12:01,659 Speaker 1: least that station, there weren't as many passengers as I 206 00:12:01,659 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: had expected. When I left the train, I was almost 207 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,218 Speaker 1: one of the only passengers along with my cameraman to 208 00:12:08,219 --> 00:12:10,819 Speaker 1: have stepped off the train and into that station. 209 00:12:11,239 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 1: We went to another train station called Jia Luhe which 210 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,669 Speaker 1: had more residential units surrounding the station, that one had 211 00:12:17,669 --> 00:12:22,119 Speaker 1: more passengers. So clearly the one with more houses, more 212 00:12:22,119 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 1: property around it, more life, it had even a road 213 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: beside it that you could see that that that train station. 214 00:12:29,340 --> 00:12:31,900 Speaker 1: was a lot more busy. So then we're back to 215 00:12:31,900 --> 00:12:35,299 Speaker 1: the question why did the authorities reopen the station then 216 00:12:35,299 --> 00:12:40,218 Speaker 1: if certain train stations were not fully utilized. I spoke 217 00:12:40,219 --> 00:12:43,409 Speaker 1: to an analyst, David Feng, he's a senior research fellow 218 00:12:43,409 --> 00:12:45,900 Speaker 1: at the Communication University of China and and this was 219 00:12:45,900 --> 00:12:46,729 Speaker 1: what he had to say. 220 00:12:47,409 --> 00:12:49,570 Speaker 1: Costs are still an issue, but I think now there's 221 00:12:49,570 --> 00:12:53,169 Speaker 1: a case of like this support from a variety of factors. 222 00:12:53,210 --> 00:12:55,409 Speaker 1: I think local authorities are willing to pitch in and 223 00:12:55,409 --> 00:12:58,729 Speaker 1: just simply reopen these stations. And also I think as 224 00:12:58,729 --> 00:13:01,409 Speaker 1: cities develop, you're gonna get more, you know, there are 225 00:13:01,409 --> 00:13:03,450 Speaker 1: more and more people, uh, you know, um. 226 00:13:03,854 --> 00:13:07,414 Speaker 1: Pretty much building houses next to pretty much uh intercity 227 00:13:07,414 --> 00:13:10,244 Speaker 1: railway stations and then it all really kind of adds up. 228 00:13:10,455 --> 00:13:14,093 Speaker 1: In the parts where the local authorities are either well 229 00:13:14,094 --> 00:13:16,664 Speaker 1: off or they put the effort, then they will pretty 230 00:13:16,664 --> 00:13:20,334 Speaker 1: much open the stations and uh or reopen them. In 231 00:13:20,335 --> 00:13:22,815 Speaker 1: places which are less developed, there's probably gonna be less 232 00:13:22,815 --> 00:13:26,973 Speaker 1: impetus for this to happen. Now the only person I 233 00:13:26,974 --> 00:13:29,164 Speaker 1: know who has traveled on a train that can run, 234 00:13:29,609 --> 00:13:32,599 Speaker 1: Without using its wheels is you, Michio. That's just amazing, 235 00:13:32,690 --> 00:13:36,090 Speaker 1: a levitating train basically. Japan is leading the way in 236 00:13:36,090 --> 00:13:38,489 Speaker 1: rail transport and they have such a bold vision for 237 00:13:38,489 --> 00:13:41,049 Speaker 1: the future. You have to tell me what that ride 238 00:13:41,049 --> 00:13:44,089 Speaker 1: was like and then tell me how Japan is pioneering 239 00:13:44,090 --> 00:13:47,809 Speaker 1: the next generation of trains. Well, I was actually quite 240 00:13:47,809 --> 00:13:50,809 Speaker 1: excited when JR Central contacted me and said, hey, you 241 00:13:50,809 --> 00:13:54,770 Speaker 1: wanna try getting on the maglev and it actually didn't 242 00:13:54,770 --> 00:13:57,130 Speaker 1: feel much different from the conventional Shinkansen. 243 00:13:57,469 --> 00:14:02,659 Speaker 1: It's, as you said, magnetically levitated. There are no wheels, 244 00:14:02,700 --> 00:14:07,020 Speaker 1: and officially it's called the superconducting maglev or Chu Shinkans 245 00:14:07,020 --> 00:14:10,599 Speaker 1: in Japanese, and I could walk inside the train with 246 00:14:10,599 --> 00:14:13,539 Speaker 1: no problem when it was speeding up to 500 kilometers 247 00:14:13,539 --> 00:14:17,299 Speaker 1: per hour. I heard the maximum speed it's reached so 248 00:14:17,299 --> 00:14:22,539 Speaker 1: far was 603 in 2015, breaking the world record. 249 00:14:22,979 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: And when this goes into operation, the current 2.5 hours 250 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:32,159 Speaker 1: between Tokyo and Osaka will be cut down to about 251 00:14:32,159 --> 00:14:36,119 Speaker 1: just above an hour. And the first phase of its 252 00:14:36,119 --> 00:14:40,869 Speaker 1: launch is expected to begin between Tokyo and Nagoya, or 253 00:14:40,869 --> 00:14:48,229 Speaker 1: 366 kilometers. This was targeted for 2027, but Shizuoka Prefecture, 254 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,359 Speaker 1: one of the prefectures in Japan, opposed construction work. 255 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:56,890 Speaker 1: Complaining of impact on water resources and that stalled construction 256 00:14:56,890 --> 00:15:00,969 Speaker 1: work and also digging and drilling through tunnels has been 257 00:15:00,969 --> 00:15:05,330 Speaker 1: faced with complications. You know, Japan is 80% mountainous, so 258 00:15:05,330 --> 00:15:07,650 Speaker 1: you have to make tunnels in order to make these 259 00:15:07,650 --> 00:15:08,599 Speaker 1: tracks go through. 260 00:15:09,070 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: And local media think the first phase of operation will 261 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: begin only after 2034, and that's at the earliest, but 262 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:21,380 Speaker 1: the cars appear ready. From 2015, testing with passengers on 263 00:15:21,380 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: board began and the hardware is under constant improvement for 264 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:27,239 Speaker 1: speed and to cut down. 265 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:32,250 Speaker 1: On manufacturing costs, just like the Shinkansen is constantly reviewed. 266 00:15:32,559 --> 00:15:34,510 Speaker 1: So we have to wait and see if this is 267 00:15:34,510 --> 00:15:38,500 Speaker 1: going to really happen and go into operation around 2034. 268 00:15:38,710 --> 00:15:41,710 Speaker 1: I have to say China is also piloting this train, 269 00:15:41,830 --> 00:15:45,739 Speaker 1: so this technology, so let's see who will win the race. 270 00:15:46,229 --> 00:15:51,270 Speaker 1: But China actually has Shanghai routes, right? in operation. Yeah, 271 00:15:51,429 --> 00:15:54,710 Speaker 1: a very short route. Is that a levitating train? No piloting, 272 00:15:54,750 --> 00:15:56,229 Speaker 1: you know, piloting I think at the moment. 273 00:15:56,570 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: Oh, OK. Well, very clearly exciting things happening in both 274 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,119 Speaker 1: Japan and China, and it's going to be interesting to 275 00:16:03,119 --> 00:16:07,039 Speaker 1: see how these high-speed rail plans impact the economies of 276 00:16:07,039 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: both countries. Thank you, ladies. Thank you. Thank you. Catch 277 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: Hui's and Michio's TV reports on YouTube and also on CNA. 278 00:16:15,039 --> 00:16:18,270 Speaker 1: Asia and a reminder as always that the TV episode 279 00:16:18,270 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: of CNA Correspondent airs every Wednesday. That's tonight. Catch it 280 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,789 Speaker 1: at 9:30 p.m. Singapore, Hong Kong time. 281 00:16:25,340 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for your company. I'm Teresa Tang. 282 00:16:27,719 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: The team behind this episode is Saya Win, Clara Ong, 283 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:35,159 Speaker 1: Tiffany Ung, Juani Johari, Pening Ho, and Craig Dale. Bye 284 00:16:35,159 --> 00:16:35,549 Speaker 1: for now.