Editing Shinkansen (section)

=== Routing ===
The majority of Shinkansen routes never intersect with slower, narrow-gauge conventional lines. Consequently, the Shinkansen is not affected by slower trains and has the capacity to operate many high-speed trains punctually. Routes are also completely [[grade separation|grade separated]] from road traffic and tracks are strictly off-limits, with penalties against trespassing regulated by law. The routes make extensive use of tunnels and [[viaduct]]s to go through and over obstacles rather than around them, with a minimum curve radius of {{convert|4000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, although the older Tōkaidō Shinkansen line has a minimum of {{convert|2500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Yasuo |first=Wakuda |date=April 1997 |title=Railway Modernization and Shinkansen |url=https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/jrtr11/history.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613154641/http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr11/history.html |archive-date=13 June 2011 |access-date=9 May 2025 |publisher=Japan Railway & Transport Review}}</ref>

While most Shinkansen routes follow this pattern, two exceptions exist. They are the [[mini-shinkansen]] lines, which run on conventional lines converted to standard gauge; and the [[Hokkaido Shinkansen]], which shares trackage with narrow-gauge freight trains through the [[Seikan Tunnel]].