One of Japan's largest railway companies wants fully self-driving bullet trains speeding through the country by the mid-2030's. According to East Japan Railway (JR East), at least one prototype will debut in 2028. The company revealed its plans on September 10, citing hopes to both streamline its operations and make them more sustainable. Japan's iconic Shinkansen railines, more commonly known as bullet trains, have been a staple of the nation's high-speed public transportation routes for over half a century. Traveling as fast as 300 km per hour (roughly 186 mph), the trains weave throughout the country's major urban areas, and are now completely electric as well as more lightweight than earlier models. According to The Japan Times, self-driving bullet trains have been a part of JR East's overall plans since at least 2018, when the company presented its "Transformation 2027" project framework.