The Top 10 Fastest Trains in the World
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In many countries, high-speed rail networks offer a more convenient and greener alternative to flying. In terms of carbon footprint per kilometer of travel, taking the train is often one of the greenest options available.
However, in many cases, low-cost plane fares are still cheaper than train tickets, especially in Europe. High speed rail infrastructure is costly to build, especially in the U.S., which has historically stalled on these types of projects.
On the other hand, Asian countries like China and Japan are investing heavily into connecting its populations via high-speed rail.
This graphic visualizes the 10 fastest operating trains in the world, their country, their top operational speed in kilometers per hour (km/h) and miles per hour (mph), and their record speed in km/h and mph.
The speed data comes from Railway Technology and is updated as of June 2023.
Which Country Has The Fastest Train in the World?
China is home to the three fastest trains in the world: the Shanghai Maglev, China Railway Harmony (CRH380A), and China Railway Fuxing.
CountryNameTop operational speed (km/h)Top operational speed (mph)Speed record (km/h)Speed record (mph)
ChinaShanghai Maglev460286501311
ChinaCR Harmony350217486302
ChinaCR Fuxing350217420261
GermanyDB Intercity-Express 3350217368229
FranceSNCF TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse)320199575357
JapanJR Shinkansen320199443275
MoroccoONCF Al Boraq320199357222
SpainRenfe AVE 103310193404251
South KoreaKorail KTX-Sancheon305190421261
ItalyTrenitalia Frecciarossa 1000300186389242
The fastest operating train in the world, the Shanghai maglev, is the first commercial maglev train. It uses electromagnets to float above the tracks, which eliminates resistance, reduces maintenance costs, and allows for higher top speeds.
China is currently developing a new maglev hyperloop train called the T-Flight, built by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
The train, which travels through low-vacuum tubes, broke the world speed record in a test run, reaching 623 km/h or 387 mph. CASIC aims to have the trains eventually reach 1,000 km/h or 621 mph, with the line is expected to be operational by 2035.
The SNCF TGV from France currently holds the world speed record for a commercial train. A modified TGV prototype fitted with two powered bogies hit 574.8 km/h in the northern Champagne region of France back in April 2007.
World’s First High-Speed Train Still Among the Fastest
Japan Rail’s Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the oldest train in the top 10 and the world’s first high-speed rail system. The iconic bullet train was launched for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, linking Tokyo to Osaka at a speed of 210 km/h. Now, the Shinkansen operates at 320 km/h and transports over a million passengers a day.
Japan is currently developing the L0 Series Maglev, connecting the 286 kilometers between Tokyo and Nagoya in just 40 minutes–faster than flying between the two cities
With a record speed record of 375 mph or 603 km/h, it previously held the top speed record before being surpassed by China’s new maglev hyperloop train (in development). The new Japanese maglev train is scheduled to be operational by 2027.
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Want to see which cities people were flying and taking the train to the most? Check out this graphic to see the most visited cities in the world in 2023.
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