TOKYO -- Two Japanese railway operators said Wednesday they will start service on a long-awaited extension of the nation's bullet train network next March, a change that will reshape travel from the capital to an area now served mostly by planes.

See you on March 14: JR East's Tetsuro Tomita, left, and JR West Director Akihiro Horisaka set the date for the start of service.
TOKYO -- Two Japanese railway operators said Wednesday they will start service on a long-awaited extension of the nation's bullet train network next March, a change that will reshape travel from the capital to an area now served mostly by planes.