Super Komachi

Pro tip can help anyone with bulky luggage on Japan’s fastest trains. While the life of a professional musician sounds glamorous, there are certain aspects of that life that are not so thrilling. Take the exceedingly practical and mundane task, for example,…

Thomas Cooks chief executive has insisted that the firms financial fundamentals are sound, despite the precipitous fall in the share price in the past few days. Shares closed down by nearly 14 per cent on the day meaning that the market capitalisation of Tho…

In this file photo taken on May 9, 2019, JR East’s new test bullet train “ALFA-X” is seen in Rifu, Miyagi prefecture. – A prototype of Japan’s next-generation Shinkansen bullet train, set to be the fastest train on wheels when it enters service, reached speed…

Over the last 25 years at The Independent, it's been my privilege to cover some of the most pivotal events, break the biggest new stories and interview the most inspirational people in travel. Here are the moments that best define my last quarter of a centur…

A prototype of Japan's next-generation Shinkansen bullet train, set to be the fastest train on wheels when it enters service, reached speeds of 320 kilometres (198 miles) per hour on a test run Thursday. The train, code-named ALFA-X, will eventually hit 360 …

Brexit uncertainty is dragging down the fortunes of the travel industry, according to the giant travel firm Thomas Cook. Revealing sharply increased half-year losses, the company said: In the UK, the political uncertainty related to Brexit over recent months…

Alex Robertson rides the Shinkansen train from Hiroshima to Tokyo. Train: A classic japanese bullet train. Class and price: Reserved seating starts at about $310. Travel time: 4hr 56m. Seat: Car 4 16C is the end one in a row of three. Opposite, my fello…

"Summit meetings tend to be like panda matings. The expectations are always high, and the results usually disappointing." -- Robert Orben

First the train will have to undergo three years of testing, CNN reports. Those test runs will happen after midnight, twice each week, on tracks between the cities of Aomori and Sendai. The train, built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi, has 10 cars an…

Japan is about to start testing its fastest ever bullet train, which can reach speeds of up to 400kph. The Alfa-X train will be put into service in 2030, with plans to run it at 360kph. This will make it faster than Chinas Fuxing Hao service linking Beijing …