10 Fastest Trains In The World

Currently, trains have become one of the favorite modes of transportation used by the global community. Traveling by train allows you to enjoy the surrounding scenery while being driven at a high speed. Several countries in the world also have super trains with speeds of 290 kph (180 mph) or more.

Since the 1980s, hundreds of billions of dollars have been invested in building new high-speed and high-capacity rail systems throughout Europe and Asia, pioneered by the Japanese Shinkansen and Train a Grand Vitesse (TGV) in France.

In the last decade, China has even built a new rail network of 38,000 kilometers that reaches almost every corner of the Bamboo Curtain country.

But, do you know which country has the fastest train in the world?

1. Shanghai Maglev SuperTrain - 460 kph/286 mph (China)

The fastest public train in the world, the Shanghai Maglev is capable of traveling at a speed of 267.8 mph. This train serves the route from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Longyang Metro Station in Shanghai, which is about 30 km away. And this train only takes 7 minutes to cover that distance.

Using German technology, Maglev trains travel along elevated tracks. Due to the strong magnetic technology, the train ride is very smooth and friction-free.

China has now developed its own 600 kph (373 mph) Maglev trains and has ambitious plans for the Maglev network, including a line between Shanghai and Hangzhou.

2. CR400 'Fuxing' - 350 kph/217 mph (China)

The CR400 Fuxing train runs at a maximum commercial speed of 350 kph (217 mph) but managed to hit a speed of 420 kph (260 mph) in testing. The Fuxing train was developed from the previous generation of trains, which was based on technology from Europe and Japan.

Having up to 16 carriages with a maximum capacity of 1,200 passengers, this series of super-fast trains is equipped with exciting features, including in-seat entertainment, smart glass screens, wireless charging,  and even variants designed for extreme weather conditions. Not only that but this train can also be operated automatically.

The CR400 variant is currently used on the main Beijing-Shanghai-Hong Kong and Beijing-Harbin routes.

3. ICE3 - 330 kph/205 mph (Germany)

This train connects Cologne-Frankfurt which is 180 kilometers away. With the ICE3 train, the travel time between the two cities has been reduced from 2 hours 30 minutes to only 62 minutes since 2002.

Its normal operating speed is 300 kph (186 mph), but the ICE3 is allowed to go up to 330 kph when late. The maximum speed of 368 kph (229 mph) was achieved in trials.

The key to the ICE3's speed is the 16 electric motors distributed throughout the carriage, producing a massive 11,000 horsepower.

4. TGV - 320 kph/198.5 mph (France)

France is the long-standing record holder for the fastest conventional train which reached a speed of 574.8 kph (357 mph) on April 3, 2007. At 150 meters per second, the TGV was once recognized worldwide as a pioneer of high-speed rail technology.

Currently, high-speed rail lines extend from Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg, Lille, Brussels, and London with trains running up to 320 kph on some routes.

Due to its success, TGV technology has been sold to Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Morocco, Italy, and the United States for the past 30 years.

5. JR East E5 SuperTrain - 320 kph/200 mph (Japan)

Japan introduced the new high-speed rail concept in 1964 and continues to be a global leader in the world of railways with its Shinkansen. Most Shinkansen today operate at a maximum speed of 300 kph (186 mph). Often dubbed the "Bullet Train" because of its speed, the E5 of Japan Railways East (JR East) is capable of cruising at speeds of up to 320 kph (200 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen, which runs north from Tokyo to Shin Aomori.

Each carriage has 731 seats and 32 electric induction motors that produce a very powerful 12,900 horsepower. Constructed from a lightweight aluminum alloy, the E5s have "active suspension", which allows the train to pass through corners at higher speeds.

Introduced in 2011, the Shinkansen 2016 has been in use north of Aomori on the Hokkaido Shinkansen, which is connected to the Japanese main island of Honshu via the 54-kilometer underwater Seikan Tunnel beneath the Tsugaru Strait.

6. 'Al Boraq' 320 kph/198.5 mph (Morocco)

Al Boraq is the first and only dedicated high-speed railway in Africa so far which was inaugurated in November 2018. This train serves the line connecting the port city of Tangier with Casablanca in Morocco.

The name Al-Boraq refers to the vehicle of the Prophet Muhammad SAW when performing Isra Miraj.

Al-Boraq also holds the speed record for African trains. During a pre-service test in 2017, the train hit a speed of 357 kph (222 mph) on the new track.

7. AVE S-103 SuperTrain - 310 kph/193 mph (Spain)

Spain joined the ranks of countries with high-speed trains in 1992. They used TGV technology imported from France. Since then, Spain has continued to develop its own high-speed rail and built the longest long-distance line in Europe, spreading from Madrid to Seville, Malaga, Valencia, Galicia, and Barcelona.

AVE, short for Alta Velocidad Espana (Spanish High Speed), which also means 'bird' in Spanish.

The AVE typically operates at a commercial maximum speed of 310 kph (193 mph). In July 2006, the AVE S-103 train set a new Spanish rail speed record of 404 kph (251 mph).

8. KTX 305 kph/190 mph (South Korea)

Since 2004, South Korea has rapidly expanded its high-speed rail network, bypassing classic lines where difficult terrain makes travel times slow and uncompetitive.

Starting with the Seoul-Busan route in 2004, KTX trains can operate up to 330 kph (205 mph), although the normal limit is 305 kph (190 mph).

The first-generation KTX-I trains, using French TGV technology, have halved the Seoul-Busan journey from more than four hours to just two hours and 15 minutes.

In 2013, the Ginseng Country succeeded in developing a new generation of trains with speeds reaching 421.4 kph. This makes South Korea one of only four countries in the world to develop a train capable of traveling at speeds in excess of 420 kph (260.4 mph), along with France, Japan, and China.

The newest trains use homemade technology and feature a high-pressure cab and triple glazing to reduce noise and eliminate discomfort when crossing tunnels.

9. Trenitalia ETR1000 -- 300 kph/186 mph (Italy)

The Italian State Railways' stunning Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) high-speed train was introduced in 2017. Designed for a maximum speed of 400 kph (250 mph), the Trenitalia has a sleek design like a fast-moving arrow.

Although the maximum speed allowed to carry passengers is 360 kph, the Trenitalia was able to reach speeds of 394 kph (245 mph) in testing in 2016.

This 200-meter-long train has 457 seats in four classes ranging from comfortable standard to business, premium, and executive. Trenitalia's services operate across Italy's T-shaped high-speed network, connecting Turin, Milan, and Venice in the north with Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples.

10. Haramain High-Speed   Railway -- 300 kph/186 mph (Saudi Arabia)

The Haramain High-Speed   Railway (HHR) has succeeded in connecting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina at speeds of up to 300 kph (186 mph).

Using 35 Spanish-made Talgo trains specially modified for desert operation at temperatures up to 50 Celsius, the 450 kilometers journey takes just two hours.

Each train has 13 carriages, which seats 417 in the economy and business class. In a year, this train usually serves 60 million passengers. This high capacity has been tested during the pilgrimage. Since HHR opened in 2018, this train has become a popular choice for pilgrims to travel between Medina and Mecca, which if taken by road can take up to 10 hours.