These are the fastest high-speed trains in the world

High-speed rail is becoming all the rage in a world obsessed with finding ways to reduce fossil fuel emissions and some of these locomotives can go extremely fast. In fact, you’d be surprised by just how quickly some can move. 

The evolution of high-speed rail is currently reshaping the transportation industry across several countries according to Railway Technology, which noted that high-speed rail is a greener option that offers an alternative to aviation. 

“Now, it is even becoming a competitor in price, with budget-high-speed rail options appearing in Europe. Germany, Italy, France, Spain, China, and Japan boast extensive high-speed rail networks,” Railway Technologies wrote. 

High-speed railways are also encouraging more economic growth and reducing travel times, which may be why Railway Technology wrote up a list of the top ten high-speed trains in the world. Let’s take a look at the fastest rail lines and their top speed records.

Country: Italy

Top Speed: 300km/h (186mph)

Record speed: 389km/h (241mph)

Country: Korea

Top Speed: 305km/h (189mph)

Record speed: 352.4km/h (218mph)

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Minseong Kim - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Country: Spain

Top Speed: 310km/h (192mph)

Record speed: 403.7km/h (250mph)

Country: Morocco

Top Speed: 320km/h (198mph)

Record speed: 357km/h (221mph)

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By NicholasNCE - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Country: Japan

Top Speed: 320km/h (198mph)

Record speed: 443km/h (275mph)

Country: France

Top Speed: 320km/h (198mph)

Record speed: 574.8km/h (356mph)

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Poudou99, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Country: Germany

Top Speed: 350km/h (217mph)

Record speed: 368km/h (228mph)

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Håkan Dahlström, CC BY 2.0

Country: China

Top Speed: 350km/h (217mph)

Record speed: 420km/h (260mph)

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By N509FZ - Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Country: China

Top Speed: 350km/h (217mph)

Record speed: 486.1km/h (302mph)

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By A1AA1A - Own Work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Country: China

Top Speed: 460km/h (285mph)

Record speed: 501km/h (311mph)

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By User Alex Needham, Public Domain

High-speed rail isn’t just for the old world either. North America will soon be getting what Brightline West called the continent’s “first true high-speed rail system” according to Newsweek in the form of the 218-mile or roughly 135-kilometer Brightline West line.

In January, Brightline West broke ground on the project and high speed rail project that will connect Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Texas may also see a 240 mph rail line connecting Dallas and Houston in the future if a plan endorsed by Joe Biden becomes a reality!

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