At the beginning of April a Japanese magnetic levitation train broke its own world speed record, hitting 603 km/h. The test marks the end of high-speed test runs to decide the best operational speed for a planned route between Tokyo and Nagoya.

On 17.12.2014 Central Japan Railway began construction of the first phase of the Chuo Shinkansen superconducting maglev (SCMAGLEV) line between Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. The SCMAGLEV accelerates and decelerates not by adhesion between wheel and rail, but through a magnetic force generated between the onboard superconducting magnets and ground coils. Japan's maglevs don't use metal tracks, instead floating about 10 cm above special guideways, allowing for frictionless movement. 

The 286 km-long line between Tokyo and Nagoya, including about 240 km of tunnel, will be in service by 2027, with a maximum speed of 505 km/h.

The project includes six stations: the two termini at Shinagawa and Nagoya and the intermediate Sagamihara station in Kanagawa will be underground; the three other stations at Kofu in Yamanashi prefecture, Lida in Nagano prefecture and Nakatsugawa in Gifu prefecture will be above ground. The end of the second section from Nagoya to Osaka is expected after 2045.  Visit http://english.jr-central.co.jp/company/ir/brief-announcement/2016/_pdf/im_2016_01.pdf. 17/15.