Top 10 Fastest Trains In The World

Since the launch of the first public railway in 1825, trains have changed beyond recognition. Some of them don’t even need traditional tracks and wheels anymore. They elegantly hover on a magnetic cushion, held above the track by an electromagnetic field. Over the past 30 years, many passenger trains have come to resemble futuristic spacecraft.

Speaking of which, the high-speed train fever has literally taken over the world. For example, Japan plans to completely phase out rail transport by 2070, replacing it with electromagnetic systems. As for the speeds of modern trains, they keep pushing the limits and constantly break speed records. AdmiGram.com presents the ten fastest trains of today.

Top 10 fastest trains in the world

Thalys (Europe)

Train: TGV PBKA Alstom
Maximum speed: 300 km/h (186 mph)

Thalys passenger trains connect all major business and tourist routes in Europe. Two models of TGV series trains by French company Alstom work for this high-speed carrier. For many Europeans, Thalys is an indispensable means of travel between major cities. Given the specifics of European railways, the speed of the trains is limited to 300 km/h.

Eurostar E320 (Europe)

Train: Eurostar e320 Siemens Velaro
Maximum speed: 320 km/h (199 mph)

One of the newest passenger trains in Europe runs under the English Channel. Sixteen brand new Siemens Velaro cars have been transporting up to 1,000 passengers per trip since 2015. The train is 400 meters long, with a speed limited to 320 km/h. Currently, the trains connect the European capitals of London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

Korail KTX (South Korea)

Train: KTX-II Hyundai Rotem
Maximum speed: 330 km/h (205 mph)

KTX is the high-speed rail system of the state-owned company “Korea Railroad Corporation.” Its crown jewel is the KTX-II train, specifically built by Hyundai Rotem. The train consists of two main motor cars with eight passenger cars in between. Depending on the track, the train speeds range from 305 to 330 km/h.

Deutsche Bahn ICE (Germany)

Train: ICE 3 Siemens AG
Maximum speed: 330 km/h (205 mph)

Germany decided not to lag behind in passenger transport trends and recently built a high-speed railway between Berlin and Munich. The latest Siemens AG train, known as ICE 3, runs between the two cities. This passenger train is 200 meters long, consists of 8 cars, and transports up to 500 passengers at speeds up to 330 km/h.

Haramain (Saudi Arabia)

Train: Talgo 350 SRO
Maximum speed: 330 km/h (205 mph)

These high-speed trains with an interesting design, reminiscent of a duck’s bill, have been running between Mecca and Medina since 2018. It is expected that 36 Talgo 350 SRO trains will transport about 60 million passengers annually. The train can comfortably transport just over 400 passengers at a speed of 330 km/h.

RENFE (Spain)

Train: AVE 103 Siemens Velaro
Maximum speed: 350 km/h (217 mph)

Spain’s state railway network (RENFE) is one of the most innovative in Europe. Nearly all Spanish cities are connected by the high-speed AVE network. Spain ranks second in the world, only after China, in terms of high-speed railway length! RENFE’s flagship is the AVE 103 train by Siemens Velaro, which travels at speeds up to 350 km/h.

Frecciarossa (Italy)

Train: Frecciarossa 1000 Hitachi Rail Italy
Maximum speed: 360 km/h (224 mph)

Thanks to Italy’s newly built railway, the high-speed Frecciarossa 1000 trains can accelerate to 360-400 km/h. This is a record for passenger transport in Europe. The “Red Arrow” consists of eight or sixteen cars, including a mandatory dining car. The train, built by Hitachi Rail Italy, can transport up to 1,000 passengers at once.

Shinkansen (Japan)

Trains: Shinkansen E1-E7 Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Maximum speed: 360 km/h (224 mph)

High-speed rail travel in Japan began in 1964 with the launch of the first “bullet train” before the Tokyo Olympics. Currently, about three dozen different modifications of rail, electromagnetic, and experimental trains operate on Japanese railways. The main workhorses are Shinkansen E1-E7 series trains from Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, transporting passengers at speeds of 300-350 km/h. Notably, on April 21, 2015, the experimental Shinkansen L0 train set a world speed record for rail transport at 603 km/h.

Fuxing Hao (China)

Train: CR400AF CRRC Qingdao Sifang
Maximum speed: 400 km/h (249 mph)

Today, China leads the world in high-speed passenger rail transport. About 170 high-speed trains are ready to transport up to a million passengers daily. Currently, CR400 series trains of various modifications are in operation. The trains can accommodate from 500 to 1,200 passengers and travel at speeds ranging from 350 to 400 km/h.

Shanghai Maglev (China)

Train: Shanghai Maglev Transrapid Siemens
Maximum speed: 431 km/h (268 mph)

The current absolute speed record holder is the Shanghai Maglev, which connects the Longyang Road metro station with Pudong International Airport, covering the 30 km distance in about 7 minutes and 20 seconds. It is the only passenger train in the world that uses magnetic levitation throughout its journey. For safety reasons, its speed is limited to 431 km/h.

image on top: TGr_79 / Flickr