Japan's bullet train has a new model that can run even during an earthquake. Here's the history of the country's iconic high-speed railway.

AP

• Japan's bullet train is one of the country's most prominent icons.
• Called the Shinkansen, the bullet train landed on the news for a totally different reason in January — ousted Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn reportedly fled Japan using the train, which he snuck onto while hidden.
• On July 1, the new N700S started service with the ability to travel safely even during an earthquake.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The iconic image of majestic bullet train blasting past the snowcapped peaks of Mount Fuji has become a symbol of Japan's growth into an economic and technological juggernaut.

Over the past half-century, the Bullet Train has become inextricably linked with the nation and the people it has served. Since its debut in 1964, the Shinkansen has grown from a single line connecting Tokyo and Osaka to lines linking all parts of the country. These days, the BBC reports that one bullet train leaves Tokyo for Osaka every 3 minutes. 

Earlier this year, the bullet train landed on the news for a totally different reason — ousted Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn reportedly fled Japan using the train, which he snuck on. More recently, the new N700S model started service.

On July 1, the newest model of the Bullet Train, the N700S, started service with the ability to travel safely even during an earthquake.

Here's a history of Japan's bullet train:

Benjamin Zhang wrote an earlier version of this story.

The first bullet train trip left Tokyo for Osaka at 6:00 AM on the morning of October 1, 1964...

On its way to Osaka, the train zoomed past Mount Fuji. Four and a half hours later, the Shinkansen arrived at its destination.

Today, the newest bullet trains can make the trip in just two and a half hours...

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