Japan creates office to drive exports of shinkansen bullet trains+

TOKYO, Sept. 1 Kyodo -
Japan set up a new government office Tuesday that will oversee efforts to
promote shinkansen bullet trains to foreign countries planning to introduce
high-speed railway systems.

The 14-member international railway strategy office at the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will work with East Japan Railway Co. and
other Japanese railway firms willing to promote exports of the shinkansen
trains, ministry officials said.
The United States is planning to introduce high-speed railways to replace
automobiles and cut carbon dioxide emissions under its Green New Deal
initiative to focus on environmental investment and fix the economy. Countries
such as Brazil and Vietnam are also involved in such moves.
The shinkansen bullet train system costs less in maintenance than its rivals,
such as the French TGV and German ICE systems, and features excellent safety
devices including an early earthquake detector to prevent derailments, the
officials said.
The new government office will inform foreign government leaders of such sales
points and promote overseas technological cooperation with the aim of
developing Japanese railway technology into a global standard, they said.
==Kyodo