Since the introduction of high-speed rails in 1964, humanity has raced to design trains with greater efficiency, economy, and most of all, speed. Some countries are winning this race. Meanwhile, others tend to take plans for high-speed infrastructure and well … ride them out of town on a rail.
Since logistics make it impossible to race the world’s trains in real life, we decided to compile a list of the world’s 20 fastest high-speed trains in commercial operation in 2020 and teamed up with animators to race them on the internet.
Image Credit: PPrat / iStock.
Methodology and Sources
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We compiled a list of the world’s 20 fastest trains using this list of the world’s fastest high-speed trains in commercial operation in 2020. Then we conducted research into the fastest trains of the future using the following sources:
- Saraogi, V. (2019). Will India be the first to see a Hyperloop One train in action? railway-technology.com
- TransPod. (2021). TransPod Vehicle. transpod.com
- ET3. (2020). ET3 Global Alliance Inc. et3.com
- Schönig, M. (2014). Future of transport :: Maglev trains. skedgo.com
- Wang S. and Cripps K. (2019). China unveils 600km/h maglev train prototype. cnn.com
- Wikipedia. (2021). Swissmetro. wikipedia.com
- Williams, M. (2017). FactCheck Q&A: How does HS2 compare to other bullet trains? channel4.com
- Morris, D. (2015). This Futuristic Maglev Pod Transit System Will Soon Be a Reality. fortune.com
- Wikipedia. (2021). GE Genesis. wikipedia.com
- RailwayTechnology. (2021). HydroFLEX Hydrogen Train. railway-technology.com
- The B1M. (2018). The Hyperloop Explained. youtube.com.
- Examrace. (2018). EMU, MEMU and DMU Trains. youtube.com.
- Boslaugh, S. (2020). Maglev. britannica.com.
- DW. (2008). Siemens, ThyssenKrupp to Dissolve Maglev Train Company. dw.com.
- Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Corp. (2005). Chronicle of Events
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- http://www.smtdc.com/en/gycf2.html
- . smtdc.com.
- Liangyu. (2017). China Focus: China’s new high-speed train debuts on Beijing-Shanghai route. xinhuanet.com.
- Cripps & Deng. (2021). China debuts bullet train that can operate in extremely cold temperatures. cnn.com.
- CRRC. (2016). China Standardized EMUs start operation. crrcgc.cc.
- China Discovery. (2018). Fuxing Trains – Newest and Fastest Bullet Trains in China. chinadiscovery.com.
- Rail of Europe. (2021). TGV Basics. railfaneurope.net.
- Bradford, B. (2019). The U.S. has tried to build high-speed rail for 50 years. marketplace.org.
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
21. Vibrant Express
Maximum speed: 250 km/hour (155.3 mph)
Country: Hong Kong
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
20. US Passenger Train
Maximum speed: 127 km/hr (79 mph)
Country: U.S.
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
19. THSR 700T
Maximum speed: 300 km/hr (186.4 mph)
Country: Taiwan
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
18. Thalys TGV, .ICE 3 Eurostar E32C
Maximum speed: 300 km/hr (186.4 mph)
Country: Netherlands
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
17. Thalys TGV, Eurostar E320
Maximum speed: 300 km/hour (186.4 mph)
Country: Belgium
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
16. TGV
Maximum speed: 320 km/hr (198.8 mph)
Country: France
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
15. Talgo 250
Maximum speed: 230 km/hr (142.9 mph)
Country: Uzbekistan
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
14. Shanghai Transrapid
Maximum speed: 431 km/h (267.8 mph)
Country: China
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
13. Pergrine Falcon
Maximum speed: 250 km/hr (155.3 mph)
Country: Russia
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
12. Pendolino Astoro
Maximum speed: 250 km/hr (155.3 mph)
Country: Switzerland
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
11. MO Ice 3
Maximum speed: 300 km/hr (186.4 mph)
Country: Germany
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
10. KTX I / KTX-Sancheon
Maximum speed: 305 km/hr (189.5 mph)
Country: South Korea
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
9. I Frecciarossa 1000, AGV 575
Maximum speed: 300 km/hr (186.4 mph)
Country:
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
8. Eurostar E320
Maximum speed: 320 km/hr (198.8 mph)
Country: U.K.
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
7. ES, E6, H5 Series Shinkansen
Maximum speed: 320 km/hr (198.8 mph)
Country: Japan
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
6. CR400AF/ CR400BF
Maximum speed: 350 km/hr (217.5 mph)
Country: China
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
5. B Talgo 350 SRO
Maximum speed: 300 km/hr (186.4 mph)
Country: Saudi Arabia
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
4. AVE Class 100, 102, 103, 112
Maximum speed: 300 km/hr (186.4 mph)
Country: Spain
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
3. Amtrak Acela Express
Maximum speed: 241 km/hr (150 mph)
Country: U.S.
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
2. Al Boraq
Maximum speed: 320 km/hr (198.8 mph)
Country: Morocco
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
1.131 TCDD HT80000
Maximum speed: 250 km/hr (155.3 mph)
Country: Turkey
Image Credit: FleetLogging.com.
Top 3 Fastest Trains that Leave the Others in the Dust
While other trains have achieved higher speeds under perfect conditions, the Shanghai Transrapid‘s regular operating speed of 267.8 mph (431 km/h) earns it the title of the fastest commercial train in the world.
Built by the German companies Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, this maglev uses an electromagnetic suspension to eliminate friction by hovering above the track. However, don’t expect to see much of the countryside from its windows; the train only runs 19 miles between Longyang Road and Pudong International Airport.
Image Credit: Geber86/istockphoto.
Fastest Train
With an operating speed of 217.5 mph and a testing speed of 307 mph, the C400AF (or “Blue Dolphin”) & CR400BF (or “Golden Phoenix”) are the fastest models in China’s Fuxing Line, and the second fastest in the world.
Unlike their older brother above, Fuxing trains use conventional EMU; that is, electricity-powered locomotion is applied from multiple cars at once to push them mechanically along the track. The Fuxing connects 16 of China’s provinces, and China is attempting to export the design to other countries.
Image Credit: Golden Eagle Luxury Trains.
A Four-Way Tie
The third-fastest commercial train in the world is actually a four-way tie between the UK’s E320, Japan’s ES/E6/H5 Shinkansen, Morocco’s Al Boraq and France’s TGV. However, while all of these trains operate at a regular speed of 198.8 mph, the TGV stands out from the pack.
It achieved a record 357.2 mph under test conditions in 2007. The TGV boars several unique design features such as in-cab signalling and shared axles between cars.
Related:
- Scenic & nostalgic railway journeys around the world
- 35 places where you can vacation like the rich & famous
This article originally appeared on FleetLogging.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Image Credit: Golden Eagle Luxury Trains/facebook.com.
