The speed data comes from Railway Technology and is updated as of June 2023.
Which Country Has The Fastest Train in the World?
China is home to the three fastest trains in the world: the Shanghai Maglev, China Railway Harmony (CRH380A), and China Railway Fuxing.
| Country | Name | Top operational speed (km/h) | Top operational speed (mph) | Speed record (km/h) | Speed record (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 China |
Shanghai Maglev | 460 | 286 | 501 | 311 |
| China |
CR Harmony | 350 | 217 | 486 | 302 |
| China |
CR Fuxing | 350 | 217 | 420 | 261 |
 Germany |
DB Intercity-Express 3 | 350 | 217 | 368 | 229 |
 France |
SNCF TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) | 320 | 199 | 575 | 357 |
 Japan |
JR Shinkansen | 320 | 199 | 443 | 275 |
 Morocco |
ONCF Al Boraq | 320 | 199 | 357 | 222 |
 Spain |
Renfe AVE 103 | 310 | 193 | 404 | 251 |
 South Korea |
Korail KTX-Sancheon | 305 | 190 | 421 | 261 |
 Italy |
Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 | 300 | 186 | 389 | 242 |
The fastest operating 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.
China is currently developing a new maglev hyperloop train called the T-Flight, built by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
The train, which travels through low-vacuum tubes, broke the world speed record in a test run, reaching 623 km/h or 387 mph. CASIC aims to have the trains eventually reach 1,000 km/h or 621 mph, with the line is expected to be operational by 2035.
The SNCF TGV from France 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.
World’s First High-Speed Train Still Among the Fastest
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.
Japan is currently developing the L0 Series Maglev, connecting the 286 kilometers between Tokyo and Nagoya in just 40 minutes–faster than flying between the two cities
With a record speed record of 375 mph or 603 km/h, it previously held the top speed record before being surpassed by China’s new maglev hyperloop train (in development). The new Japanese maglev train is scheduled to be operational by 2027.
Source: Visual Capitalist
