Toot sweet: The world’s 21 fastest trains

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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

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:

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:

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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

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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

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3. Amtrak Acela Express

Maximum speed: 241 km/hr (150 mph)

Country: U.S.

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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

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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:

This article originally appeared on FleetLogging.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

Image Credit: Golden Eagle Luxury Trains/facebook.com.

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