As another testimony to Japan's incredible ability to restore it's infrastructure regardless of the mass damage inflicted on highly complex and expensive technology, large sections of Japan's bullet train systems between Tokyo and the north are already operational, with the rest to quickly follow and be fully restored within April.
(Pre-March 11th footage of major Bullet Train systems in Japan)
The Tohoku Bullet Train system had approximately 1,200 badly damaged sections over a 310-mile area, including severed cables, broken power poles, and cracks in the elevated tracks (see photo below). However, approximately 120 miles have already been restored, with bullet trains already operational.
There were also no fatalities on the Bullet Train system as a result of the March 11 earthquake.
Although twenty-four Tohoku line Bullet Trains were running at high speeds when the quake struck, they all stopped without a single derailment because a network of nine seismographs along the coast and 44 seismographs along the Bullet Train route detected the initial seismic movements and emergency brakes were applied.
A JR East official said, "After the Chuetsu earthquake, people in Niigata told us, 'Restoring Bullet Train services will bring brighter news to the quake-hit areas.' We want the restoration of full services on the Tohoku Bullet Train Line to contribute to rebuilding efforts."
The name of the primary Bullet Train model running between Tokyo and Sendai is the Nozomi model (transl: Hope). The Bullet Train was a symbol of Japanese economic recovery after WWII. Apart from its practical and crucial role to connect Tokyo to the disaster-hit areas, its incredibly fast restoration also is a message of hope to the people in the north that they are no longer isolated, and that big help is on its way, fast.
Referrences: http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201103290189.html
