Which Country Has The Fastest Train In The World? 🚅

What We're Showing

The 10 fastest trains in the world, their country, top operational speed in km/h and mph, and their record speed in km/h and mph.

Speed data comes from Railway Technology and is updated as of June 2023.

Key Takeaways

• The fastest 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.
• The SNCF TGV 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.
• 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.