In 2009, the Maglev system was approved and entered commercial construction. The linear Chuo Shinkansen line is planned to link Tokyo and Nagoya by the year 2027. The trip is expected to take only forty minutes – faster than either flying between the two cities or taking the one and a half hour trip on the current Tokaido Line, available with the Japan Rail Pass. The proposed route will include stops at stations in Shinagawa, Sagamihara, Kofu, Iida, and Nakatsugawa.
The original goal of the Maglev project was to produce a train that could cover the route from Tokyo to Osaka in less than one hour. This will be achieved when the Maglev line is extended from Nagoya to Osaka, expected to be in operation by 2045.
Eighty percent of the 286 kilometers (177 mile) Maglev bullet train track will be located underground, passing under urban sprawl and mountainous terrain. The project is expected to cost the equivalent of 55 billion dollars.
When completed, the train will include sixteen carriages capable of holding one thousand passengers. At present, the public have been invited to take part on Maglev test rides. Tourists can visit the SC Maglev Parkway in Nagoya or the Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center near the town of Otsuki to learn more and view Maglev test runs.