Benjamin Alan JamieFeb 8
Xavier Mareca

The Tokaido Shinkansen continues operating in conditions that would shut down most rail systems.

**Engineering behind it:**
🔹 Advanced snow detection sensors
🔹 Heated track switching systems
🔹 Aerodynamic design prevents snow buildup
🔹 Real-time monitoring & predictive maintenance
🔹 Automated de-icing systems

Since 1964, the Shinkansen has maintained a perfect safety record while running at 320 km/h.

#Engineering #Shinkansen #RailTech #Infrastructure #Japan

Feb 6 at 8:23pmMastodon for Android
Show threadMoratorium Autobahn A565Feb 6
@xavierdatatech What about the water jets??
Show threadSnoopJFeb 7

@A565Autobahn @xavierdatatech I believe they are used to keep the track lines clear of accumulation. Here's a random product page for this sort of thing that describes the general use-case of keeping important part of the railway clear and shows a few different applications of the technique:

https://www.es-waternet.co.jp/solution/system/system025/

消雪散水システム | システム | 株式会社イーエス・ウォーターネット

鉄道には安心と快適さ、そして正確さが要求されます。ところが雪国の鉄道は雪に悩まされることがあります。イーエス・

株式会社イーエス・ウォーターネット | スプリンクラーや散水機材を提供する水のエキスパート、イーエス・ウォーターネットです。会社概要、システム、製品、施工実績、採用情報などをご覧いただけます。
Show threadSnoopJFeb 7

@A565Autobahn @xavierdatatech and since I fell partly down a little rabbit hole here, I'll also share an interesting little press release by JR Central in 2020 describing a modification to a sprinkler head to improve the performance of such a system in keeping built-up accumulation under control (the result of allowing air into the line means the water is spread more uniformly and the resulting surface is also more uniform)

https://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000040869.pdf

Show threadDR. NERD Feb 6
@xavierdatatech Züge können bei Schnee fahren? Weiß das die Deutsche Bahn schon?..😂
Show threadSuperIluFeb 7
@pawido Ich glaube @xavierdatatech wollte nur aufzaehlen was die DB alles NICHT hat 🤣 🤡
Show threadMartin Schröder 🇺🇳Feb 8
@pawido
Ich denke SBB und ÖBB haben ihr das schon gezeigt. 😉
@xavierdatatech
Show threadWilfried KlaebeFeb 8

@xavierdatatech Sie wusste es zumindest mal: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alle_reden_vom_Wetter._Wir_nicht.

@pawido

Alle reden vom Wetter. Wir nicht. – Wikipedia

Show threadDR. NERD Feb 8
@wonka @xavierdatatech die meisten Fahrgäste sind bedauerlicherweise nicht in einem Pre-DB Alter. Die kennen nix anderes.
Dieser Werbespot (1966) war von der Deutschen Bundesbahn - die hat mit der 1993 gegründeten DB nix mehr gemeinsam - außer die Anfangsbuchstaben ..😂
Show threadcroutonFeb 6
@xavierdatatech its amazing how well rail systems can function when there is social expectation & funding to support that.
Show threadAttila KinaliFeb 7
@xavierdatatech Meanwhile the German ICE can't run when there is ice on the tracks, because that would damage the sensitive underside....
Show threadRatsnake Games 🔞Feb 8
@xavierdatatech The Shinkansen has not been running at 320 km/h since 1964.
Show threadAlan J. CainFeb 8
@xavierdatatech This brings to mind a notorious episode with British Rail in 1991, with disruption caused by the unusual (for Britain) ‘type of snow’, which the media turned into British Rail blaming ‘the wrong type of snow’: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_wrong_type_of_snow
The wrong type of snow - Wikipedia

Show threadBeanface42Feb 8
@xavierdatatech Well, there is the Japanese trains…And there is the others!

And I do not ever speak about the service and the people that are working for these companies.

It’s a "no match" for the rest of the world.
Show threadSpeed demon 🇪🇺 🇳🇴🇺🇦🇵🇸Feb 8
@xavierdatatech Is that urea (same as used on airplanes) ? What do they do about the run-off? If urea is just left to run into nearby streams, you'll get over-fertilization and dead water-ways. If they manage the run-off, kudos to them. It's got to be pretty expensive though.
Show threadJoykillFeb 8
@hakona @xavierdatatech that's water
Show threadSpeed demon 🇪🇺 🇳🇴🇺🇦🇵🇸Feb 8
@joykill Temperatures can't be very low then, wouldn't work in Norway. @xavierdatatech
Show thread10tothe22Feb 8
@xavierdatatech Beautiful sights and sounds. Mesmerizing, could watch all day. Thank you for sharing.
Show threadThird spruce tree on the leftFeb 8

@xavierdatatech it's almost as if, and this is crazy talk here, if you make a large infrastructure system a national priority and then fund it well, you CAN have nice cross continental rail travel.

Oh goodness if Amtrak or via had had this commitment we'd have Toronto to LA Hi speed rail in a day, downtown to to downtown no airport.

Show threadEFFeb 8
@tezoatlipoca @xavierdatatech doing our bit to make Metrolinx better. Roll on Alto.
Show threadLeanne JFeb 8
@xavierdatatech It’s a phenomenal thing. Spotlessly clean, loads of room inside, on time to the minute (often seconds), plus we were lucky enough to see the famous Doctor Yellow shinkansen on our very first trip! Fascinating machine.
Show threadPeter Van EyndeFeb 8

@xavierdatatech loved riding it. Last time round we were shocked to learn our train was delayed. Turns out that a 270 km/h (170 mph) tornado *will* cause a delay, caused by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Peipah_%282025%29

Still amazing quality, comfort and just plain fun to ride

Tropical Storm Peipah (2025) - Wikipedia

Show threaddummzeuchFeb 8

@xavierdatatech and then there is Deutsche Bahn: Oh my god, a snowflake! Let's just shut down the whole network! (What happened to "Alle reden vom Wetter. Wir nicht.")

https://www.br110.de/images/Geschichte/Werbung/wetter02.jpg

Show threadMcWabbit 🇺🇦🍋🌻🍉Feb 8
@xavierdatatech While the reactions here lament how we in the West run our trains, It is in my opinion that we will never have such an efficient and smooth operating rail system over here. It requires more than demand and money alone, namely a culture change. We cannot have nice things here with rampant vandalism, individualism (people as well as countries/states) and ultra capitalistic society. Sadly I just don't see it happening.
Show threadargonautFeb 12

@xavierdatatech #DeutscheBundesBahn hat a slogan and advertisement campain in my youth:
"Alle reden vom Wetter. Wir nicht."
(All talk about weather. We don't.)

Deutsche Bundesbahn was privatized by the Kohl government and renamed #DeutscheBahn .