How Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains changed the world of rail travel cnn.com

This was the dawn of Japan's "bullet train" era, widely regarded as the defining symbol of the country's astonishing recovery from the trauma of World War II.
The Shinkansen network has expanded steadily since the 320-mile Tokaido line, linking Tokyo and Shin-Osaka was completed in 1964.
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Despite these factors, not a single passenger has ever been killed or injured on the Shinkansen network over its 55-year history.
As Tokyo prepares to host the Olympics again in 2020, it's difficult to imagine Japan without its bullet trains.