Is the bullet train automated?

Human drivers normally accelerate, decelerate and stop the Shinkansen at the right place at the station platforms. The automatic train control (ATC) system currently in place supports the driver by determining the optimal speed limit according to data such as the distance from the train ahead.



As of March 2026, the Japanese Shinkansen is not yet fully autonomous, but it is one of the most highly automated rail systems in the world. Currently, the trains utilize Automatic Train Control (ATC), which monitors the train's speed and position in real-time. If a train exceeds the safe speed limit for its section of track, the ATC automatically applies the brakes without driver intervention. This system is what has allowed the Shinkansen to maintain its perfect safety record during earthquakes and typhoons. However, a human driver is still present in the cockpit for all passenger-carrying service to handle station departures and to oversee the systems in case of emergencies. This is changing: JR East has officially begun testing Grade 2 Automation (GoA2), where the train moves autonomously but a driver remains present for emergencies. Fully "driverless" bullet trains (GoA4) are scheduled to begin service on the Joetsu line between Tokyo and Niigata by the mid-2030s. So, while the 2026 bullet train feels like a computer-driven marvel, there is still a highly trained professional at the helm for your peace of mind.

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The Shinkansen employs an ATC (Automatic Train Control) system, eliminating the need for trackside signals. It uses a comprehensive system of Automatic Train Protection.

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JR East has announced that it will introduce driverless Shinkansen in Japan by the mid-2030s. JR Tokai could launch self-driving bullet trains even earlier, by 2028.

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Of the five degrees of automation, Grade 4, in which a train is automatically controlled without staff on board, is the highest. The Yurikamome line, Tokyo's first fully automated transit system connecting Shimbashi to Toyosu via the artificial island of Odaiba, runs without staff on board.

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Fully automated trains have been around a surprisingly long time – the first opened in Kobe, Japan, in 1981, and they now operate in over 40 cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Paris, Singapore, Dubai, and London.

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Levels of autonomous trains While full driverless autonomy is certainly technically possible, and is applied on various routes worldwide, it still accounts for only a tiny percentage of trains running today. New trains are still being designed and built with fully equipped driver cabins.

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Most of the EU Members have at least one metro system. However, only six of them operate automated metro systems (GoA4). The largest number of unmanned networks are located in France and Italy.

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While operations such as emergency stops will be conducted by the driver, the trains will adjust their speed and stop at stations automatically. JR Tokai has been conducting test runs of Tokaido Shinkansen trains equipped with the automated operation system since November 2021.

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Maglev trains work on the principle of magnetic repulsion between the cars and the track. The word maglev is actually a combination of the words “magnetic” and “levitation.” The magnetic levitation, or floating of the train, is achieved through the use of an electrodynamic suspension system, or EDS.

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The train used for the movie, the “Nippon Speed line” is fictional, although it bears some similarities to the real Shinkansen on the line between Tokyo and Kyoto.

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Instead, it actually uses magnetic forces to both elevate the train and propel it forward. The magnetic force is created by the interaction between metal coils in the rails or guideways and the superconducting electromagnets on the train itself.

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So Shinkansen trains have a different kind of speed control system, known as ATC. With this system, speed information is transmitted along the track and is received by a signal attached to the driver's seat. The ATC automatically keeps the train running within the designated speed limit.

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There's no rail friction to speak of, meaning these trains can hit speeds of hundreds of miles per hour. Yet high speed is just one major benefit of maglev trains. Because the trains rarely (if ever) touch the track, there's far less noise and vibration than typical, earth-shaking trains.

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The Shinkansen has succeeded thanks to several kinds of technology: (1) A streamlined body: To achieve speeds of 200 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour) and more, the trains needed to be as aerodynamic (to cause as little wind resistance) as possible.

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Deutsche Bahn (DB), in partnership with Siemens Mobility, has developed the world's first fully automated driverless train in Germany.

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While automated trains only comprise a relatively small fraction of the world's total transit systems, the percentage is growing as more urban and regional authorities realize the advantages. Driverless trains reduce the chance of human error while improving rail efficiency and safety.

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Safety precaution. And convenience. You want someone in front who is able to swiftly make decisions on the possibility that the track control does something wrong. It seldom does, and if it does it's not certain that it's the train driver who is actually able to do something about it, that spots it in time.

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Automatic driverless metros have now begun passenger service on Paris Metro's Line 4, as work has been completed to digitise and automate the century-old line. More driverless shuttles will be introduced over time to achieve full automation by the end of 2023.

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