Shinkansen is the first high-speed rail network, operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Built in 1964, it serves as the core of Japan’s rail transportation network. Since the initial Shinkansen ran at 210 km/h. Test run speeds have been 443 km/h in 1996 and up to a world record of 581 km/h in 2003. This network has carried over 6 billion passengers without a single major accident.