Japanese Delegates Celebrate Hideo Shima's Legacy with National Railway Museum Partnership

Visitors from Japan recently gathered at the National Railway Museum in York to celebrate a significant milestone in rail history. On 20th May 2026, delegates from the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya, Japan, marked the 125th anniversary of Hideo Shima, the brilliant engineer behind the Japanese bullet train, by signing a sister-partnership agreement with the museum. This partnership aims to strengthen the collaboration between rail experts in the UK and Japan, both renowned for their advancements in railway technology.

Celebrating Hideo Shima

The ceremony took place alongside the museum's impressive display of the 1976 0 series Shinkansen, which is the only preserved bullet train outside of Japan. This iconic train is popular among visitors, who can board and even sit inside it, making for a unique interactive experience.

Hideo Shima was instrumental in developing the first Japanese bullet train, which revolutionised rail travel in Japan and beyond. The partnership agreement serves as a tribute to his legacy and the long-standing relationship between the UK and Japan in the field of railways.

A Partnership for the Future

Craig Bentley, the Director of the National Railway Museum, highlighted the importance of this collaboration:

“You cannot write the story of rail without the UK and Japan. The UK, as the birthplace of the modern railway, helped shape the foundations of rail travel across the world, and those early advances were instrumental in Japan’s own journey to becoming a global leader in rail innovation.”

This new partnership is expected to foster mutual learning and inspiration, allowing both countries to share their expertise and continue pushing the boundaries of rail technology. The aim is to develop new ideas that will benefit future generations of rail enthusiasts and engineers.

SCMAGLEV Technology

The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya is known for showcasing the latest advancements in high-speed rail, including the Superconducting Magnetically Levitated Vehicle (SCMaglev). This cutting-edge technology allows trains to hover above the tracks using powerful magnets, enabling them to reach incredible speeds of over 311 mph. The L0 series, a prototype of this technology, holds the record for the fastest train in the world, having achieved speeds of 375 mph.

Japan is currently working on the Chūō Shinkansen line, which will feature the L0 series. Once completed, this line will allow passengers to travel from Tokyo to Osaka in just 67 minutes. To put that into perspective, it's like being able to travel from London to Edinburgh in just over an hour, a journey that currently takes more than five hours!

Building Connections

Hitoshi Okabe, Director of the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, expressed the significance of this partnership:

“This partnership honours a relationship of over 30 years of trust and collaboration between JR Central and the National Railway Museum. Through this partnership, the two museums will engage in exchange as sister institutions, with the aim of passing on the value of railway technology and culture to future generations and sharing it with the world.”

As part of the collaboration, both institutions plan to share knowledge, resources, and experiences, further enriching the understanding of railway history and innovation. This is especially important as both the National Railway Museum and the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park aim to educate the public about the impact of railway technology on society.

The National Railway Museum Experience

The National Railway Museum is not just a place for rail enthusiasts; it is the most visited free attraction in the region, showcasing over 260 locomotives and rolling stock, along with thousands of railway-related objects and more than 1.75 million documents, photographs, and artworks. Its vast collection makes it a treasure trove for anyone interested in the history of rail travel.

Admission to the museum is free, making it accessible for everyone. Visitors can easily book their tickets online at the museum's website, ensuring a hassle-free experience when exploring the rich history of railways.

This exciting partnership with the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park promises to enhance the experiences offered at the National Railway Museum, allowing visitors to learn more about the past, present, and future of rail travel. With ongoing exchanges and collaborations, the museum will continue to be a vital hub for railway culture and innovation in the UK and beyond.