World’s fastest train: Super-fast trains that can travel at mind-boggling speeds, are quickly becoming a norm across the world, as China leads the way with its cutting-edge maglev trains.
Let us take a look at the some of the world’s fastest trains, the quickest of which has a reached a record speed of 501 kmph.
Which is the world’s fastest train?
China’s Shanghai Maglev, also known as the Shanghai Transrapid, is the world’s fastest train in operation. The superfast train has an average speed of 251 kmph, a top speed of up to 460 kmph, and has reached a record-setting 501 kmph in a test environments.
Jointly designed and manufactured by German firms, Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, the maglev train is managed and operated by the Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Company.
What are some of world’s fastest trains?
- CR Harmony: A part of China’s CRH series of high-speed trains, CR Harmony can reach a top speed of 350 kmph. While the CR Harmony has a similar operating speed as China’s CR Fuxing series of trains, it ranks higher because of achieving higher test speeds.
- CR Fuxing: China’s indigenously-developed CR Fuxing trains are its first high-speed trains built entirely with domestic technology, without any foreign help. The CR Fuxing have reached speeds of up to 420 kmph in trial runs, and have an operational speed of 350 km.
- DB ICE: Manufactured by Siemens and Bombardier, the ICE 3 series are Germany’s flagship high-speed trains operated by the Dutch Railways, traversing across the borders to Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The DB ICE 3 includes different variants, such as ICE 3, ICE 3M, New ICE 3 and ICE 3neo, all of which have different specifications and designed for different roles and conditions. The ICE International trains are specially designed to operate in multiple countries.
- SCNCF TGV (Train Grande Vitesse): The SCNCF Train Grande Vitesse (TGV) is one of the world’s most iconic high-speed trains that operate in France. The train debuted in 1981, making it one of the earliest high-speed trains in the world, and holds several speed records to its name. The TGV has a operational speed of 320 kmph.
- JR Shinkansen: The JR Shinkansen, aka the bullet train, its the fastest train in Japan. The first-generation of Japan’s Shinkansen had a top speed of 220 kmph, but modern versions like the E5 and H5 Series, built by Hitachi and Kawasaki, operate at speeds of 320 kmph.