Japan’s first Shinkansen services in 1964 used the 0 Series train.
The 0 Series was introduced when the Tokaido Shinkansen opened between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka on 1 October 1964. Its rounded white-and-blue design became one of the most recognizable images in railway history.
The trains were designed for frequent, reliable operation rather than the extreme speeds later associated with experimental records. Their scheduled maximum speed on the original line was 210 km/h, a remarkable figure for a regular passenger service at the time.
The 0 Series remained in service for decades and was gradually withdrawn from Japan’s main Shinkansen routes. A small number of preserved vehicles can still be seen in railway museums and heritage collections. The name refers to the original numbering scheme, not to a zero-speed or prototype designation.