Determination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail". The Japanese JR-Maglev is the fastest non-conventional train in the world, having achieved 581 km/h (361 mph) on a magnetic-levitation track. Unmanned rocket sleds that ride on rails have reached over 10,400 km/h (6,462 mph), equivalent to Mach 8.5. The fastest manned rail vehicle was a manned rocket sled, that travelled at 1,017 km/h (635 mph). The French TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) is the fastest conventional train in the world, using powered metal wheels riding on metal rails. In April 2007, the TGV broke its own 1990 record with a new speed of 574.8 km/h (357.18 mph) under test conditions with a shortened train (two power cars and three passenger cars) and larger wheels to reduce angular speed in the motors. [1] The fastest scheduled trains in daily service is the Chinese CRH service Harmony express on the Wuhan–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway[2] [edit] Scheduled trains [edit] Average speed, from station to station | Average speed km/h (mph) | Top speed km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | From | To | Distance | Date | Comments | | 115 (71.4) | 128.8 (80) | Cheltenham Spa Express | Steam | United Kingdom | Swindon | London | 124.45 km (77.3 miles) | 1932 | 77.3 miles in 65 minutes. Claimed by the Great Western Railway at the time to be the world's fastest train. | | 124 (77.0) | 160 (99.4) | "Fliegender Hamburger" | Diesel-electric | Germany | Berlin | Hamburg | 286 km | 1933 | DMU, 98 passengers | | 132.1 (82.0) | 160 (99.4) | Mistral | Electric | France | Paris | Dijon | 315 km | 1964 | | | 162.8 (101.1) | 210 (130.4) | Hikari Shinkansen | Electric | Japan | Tokyo | Shin-Osaka | 515.0 km | 1965 | stopped at Nagoya and Kyoto | | 163 (101.2) | 200 (124.2) | Etendard | Electric | France | St-Pierre-des-Corps | Poitiers | 100 km | 1973 | old line, locomotive hauled (CC6500) | | 214 (132.9) | 260 (161.4) | TGV | Electric | France | Paris | Lyon-Brotteaux | 429 km | 1983 | | | 261.8 (162.6) | 300 (186.3) | Nozomi Shinkansen | Electric | Japan | Hiroshima | Kokura | 192.0 km | 1997 | operated by 500 Series Shinkansen | | 263.3 (163.3) | 320 (198.7) | TGV | Electric | France | Lyon-St Exupéry | Aix-en-Provence | 289.6 km | 2005 | | | 279.3 (173.4)[3] | 320 (198.7) | TGV | Electric | France | Lorraine TGV | Champagne TGV | 167.6 km | 2007 | on new LGV Est | | 313 (194) | 350 (217) | CRH2-088C + CRH2-087C | Electric | China | Wuhan | Guangzhou North | 922 km | 26 December 2009 | On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway
The first train G1001 arrives Guangzhou North 10 minutes early, at an average speed of 329 km/h. We calculate the speed using its running time on timetable. | [edit] Average speed, between terminating stations | Average speed (km/h) | Train | Type | Location | From | To | Distance | Date | Comments | | 242.5 | Nozomi Shinkansen | Electric | Japan | Shin-Osaka | Hakata | 554 km | 1997-2003 | conventional wheeled [4] | | 250 | TGV | Electric | France | Paris-Lyon | Marseille St-Charles | 750 km | 2001... | conventional wheeled | | 313 | CRH2-088C + CRH2-087C | Electric | China | Wuhan | Guangzhou North | 922 km | 26 December 2009 | On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway
The first train G1001 arrives Guangzhou North 10 minutes early, at an average speed of 329 km/h. We calculate the speed using its running time on timetable. | [edit] Top speed, first attained [edit] Conventional wheeled | Top speed (km/h) | Average speed (km/h) | Train | Type | Location | From | To | Distance | Date | | 210 | 128.9 | Hikari Shinkansen | Electric | Japan | Tokyo | Shin-Osaka | 515 km | 1964 | | 260 | - | TGV | Electric | France | Paris | Lyon-Brotteaux | 430 km | 1981 | | 270 | - | TGV | Electric | France | Paris | Lyon-Brotteaux | 430 km | 1983 | | 300 | - | TGV | Electric | France | Paris | Le Mans | 202 km | 1989 | | 320 | - | TGV | Electric | France | Avignon-TGV | Aix-en-Provence-TGV | 74 km | 2005 | | 350 | 240 | CRH | Electric | China | Beijing South | Tianjin | 117 km | 2008 | [edit] Maglev | Top speed (km/h) | Average speed (km/h) | Train | Type | Location | From | To | Distance | Date | | 431 | 245.5 | Shanghai Maglev Train | Maglev | China | Shanghai Pudong Airport | Shanghai Longyang Road | 30 km | 2003 | [edit] Unmodified commercial trains in test run [edit] Average speed, over long distance Demonstration or other special workings with record average speed over distances of more than 160 km (100 miles). | Average speed km/h (mph) | Top speed km/h (mph) | Distance | Time | Train | Type | Location | From | To | Date | Comments | | 112 (67.1) | 145 (90) claimed | 227 km (141 miles) | 126 min | LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke | Steam | United Kingdom | Crewe | Carlisle | 22-23 August 1895 | Overnight train | | 124 (77) | 181 (112.4) | 1,633 km (1,015 miles) | 785 min | Pioneer Zephyr | Diesel | United States | Denver | Chicago | 26 May 1934 | 1,015 miles non-stop in 13 hours 5 minutes. | | 165 (102.48) | 203 | 316 km | 115 min | ETR 200 | Electric | Italy | Florence | Milan | 20 July 1939 | 175.8 km/h mean speed between Lavino and Rogoredo (distance 199.147 km). | | 332 (206) | 394 | 968 km | 175 min | CRH3-014C + CRH3-017C | Electric | China | Guangzhou South | Wuhan | 9 December 2009 | Depart at 07:56, arrive at 10:50[5] | [edit] Top speed [edit] Conventional wheeled [edit] Maglev [edit] Special built trains for test only [edit] Conventional wheeled [edit] Electric multiple units | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 162.5 (100.9) | Siemens & Halske Drehstrom | Electric (Locomotive or EMU?) | Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) | 1901 | Drehstrom: Three-phase. Some sources say 160 or 162 km/h. See: [3]. | | 203 (126.1) | Siemens & Halske Drehstrom-Triebwagen | Electric multiple unit (EMU) | Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) | 6 October 1903 | Drehstrom-Triebwagen: Three-phase-Multiple unit. Some sources say 7 October, others say 201 or 200.99 km/h and others say an improbable 213 km/h. See: de:Studiengesellschaft für Elektrische Schnellbahnen, [4], [5]. | | 206.7 (128.4) | Siemens & Halske Drehstrom-Triebwagen | Electric multiple unit | Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) | 23 October 1903 | Drehstrom-Triebwagen: Three-phase-Multiple unit. | | 210.2 (130.6) | AEG Drehstrom-Triebwagen | Electric multiple unit | Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) | 28 October 1903 | Drehstrom-Triebwagen: Three-phase-Multiple unit. Many sources say 27 October. On 25 November 1903 a Siemens & Halske train attained 210 km/h. Absolute record. Broken by Schienenzeppelin in 1931. Record for electrical trains until 1954. See: de:Studiengesellschaft für Elektrische Schnellbahnen, [6], [7]. | | 256 (159) | Class 1000 Shinkansen | Electric multiple unit | Japan | 30 March 1963 | On Odawara test track, now part of Tōkaidō Shinkansen.[8] | | 286 (177.6) | Class 951 Shinkansen | Electric multiple unit | Japan | 24 February 1972 | On Sanyō Shinkansen.[8] | | 319 (198.1) | Class 961 Shinkansen | Electric multiple unit | Japan | 7 December 1979 | On Oyama test track, now part of Tōhoku Shinkansen.[8] | | 380 (236.12) | SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 | Electric multiple unit | France | 26 February 1981 | On LGV Sud-Est. Conventional wheeled absolute record. | | 406.9 (252.83) | InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) | Electric multiple unit | West Germany | 1 May 1988 | Conventional wheeled absolute record. | | 408.4 (253.7) | SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 | Electric multiple unit | France | 12 December 1988 | On LGV Sud-Est. Conventional wheeled absolute record. | | 482.4 (299.7) | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 | Electric multiple unit | France | 5 December 1989 | On LGV Atlantique. Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Conventional wheeled absolute record. | | 515.3 (320.1) (320.19) | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 | Electric multiple unit | France | 18 May 1990 | On LGV Atlantique. Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Conventional wheeled absolute record. | | 574.8 (357.18) | SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 | Electric multiple unit | France | 3 April 2007 | On LGV Est. Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Conventional wheeled absolute record.[1] | [edit] Electric locomotives | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 243 (150.99) | Alstom CC 7121 | Electric locomotive | France | 21 February 1954 | Between Dijon and Beaune. Conventional wheeled absolute record. | | 320.6 (199.2) | Alstom CC 7107 | Electric locomotive | France | 28 March 1955 | On the Les Landes line between Bordeaux and Dax (Facture - Morcenx). Conventional wheeled absolute record. See: fr:CC 7100. | | 331 (205.6) | Jeumont-Schneider BB 9004 | Electric locomotive | France | 29 March 1955 | On the Les Landes line between Bordeaux and Dax (Facture - Morcenx). Conventional wheeled absolute record. Other sources say 330.9 km/h. See: fr:BB 9003-9004, [8]. | | 357 (221.82) | Siemens Eurosprinter ES64U4 No. 1216 050-5 | Electric locomotive | Germany | 2 September 2006 | Record attained on Nuremberg-Munich high-speed rail line, locomotive owned by ÖBB. Series-produced locomotive. See: [9], [10]. | [edit] Third rail electric | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 174 (108) | Class 442 (Wessex Electric) unit 2401 | Electric | United Kingdom | 11 April 1988 | [edit] Fourth rail electric [edit] In tunnel [edit] Gas turbine [edit] Diesel [edit] Gasoline | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 8 (4.97) | Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive | Steam | United Kingdom | 21 February 1804 | | 24 (15) | Locomotion No. 1 | Steam | United Kingdom | 1825 | | 48 (30) | Stephenson's Rocket | Steam | United Kingdom | 1830 | | 96.6 (60) | Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope | Steam | United States | 1848 | First authenticated 60 mph, 26 miles in 26 minutes. | | 125.6 (78) | Great Britain | Steam | United Kingdom | 1850 | 80 mph claimed | | 131.6 (81.8) | Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 | Steam | United Kingdom | June 1854 | Broad gauge | | 131 (82) | Empire State Express No. 999 | Steam | United States | May 10, 1893 | 112 mph (179 km/h) claimed, which would make it the first wheeled vehicle to exceed 100 mph.[11][12] | | 145 (90) | LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke | Steam | United Kingdom | 22-23 August 1895 | Maximum speed claimed, although average speed record was authenticated (see below). | | 164 (102.3) | GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro | Steam | United Kingdom | 9 May 1904 | Claimed to be the first steam locomotive to reach 100 mph. | | 185.07 (115.00) | Pennsylvania Railroad E6s #460 | Steam | United States | 11 June 1927 | Claimed. E6s #7002 was clocked at Crestline, Ohio at 127.1 mph (204.55 km/h) in 1905. However PRR Steam Locomotives did not carry speedometers at that time, speed was calculated by measuring time between mile markers, so this is not recognized as a speed record.[citation needed] | | 160 (100) | LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman | Steam | United Kingdom | 30 November 1934 | In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (160 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[13] | | 168.5 (104.70) | LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus | Steam | United Kingdom | 5 March 1935 | First run at 100+ mph with complete, surviving documentation. | | 181.1 (112.53) | Milwaukee Road class A #2 | Steam | United States | 15 May 1935 | Claimed[citation needed] | | 180.3 (112) | LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link | Steam | United Kingdom | 29 September 1935 | Authenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph. | | 200.4 (124.52) | Borsig DRG series 05 002 | Steam | Germany | 11 May 1936 | | 202.6 (125.88) | LNER Class A4 No.4468 Mallard | Steam | United Kingdom | 3 July 1938 | Peak speed 202.6 km/h, mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h. Mallard suffered an overheated big end during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[14] | | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 295.72 (183.68) | Budd Rail Diesel Car | Jet aero engines | United States | 23 July 1966 | | [edit] Rocket | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 280 | Opel RAK III | Rocket | Germany | 23 June 1928 | Unmanned. Some sources say 254 or 290 km/h. See: [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]. | [edit] Narrow gauge [edit] Hovertrain | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 100 | Aérotrain 01 | Hovercraft train, Propeller engine | fr:Gometz-la-Ville, France | 21 February 1966 | | | 200 | Aérotrain 01 | Hovercraft train, Propeller engine | Gometz-la-Ville, France | A few days after 21 February 1966 | | | 303 | Aérotrain 01 | Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine | Gometz-la-Ville, France | 23 December 1966 | With the help of an auxiliary rocket. | | 345 | Aérotrain 02 | Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine | Gometz-la-Ville, France | November 1967 | | | 422 | Aérotrain 02 | Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine | Gometz-la-Ville, France | 22 January 1969 | With the help of an auxiliary rocket. | | 430.4 | Aérotrain I-80 Haute Vitesse (HV) | Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine | Chevilly, Loiret, France | 5 March 1974 | Peak speed 430.4 km/h, average speed over two runs in opposite directions 417.6 km/h on a 3 km track. | [edit] Maglev | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 90 | MBB Prinzipfahrzeug | Maglev | MBB's Ottobrunn factory (near Munich), West Germany | 6 May 1971 | 660 m test track; MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle. | | 164 (101.9) | Transrapid 02 | Maglev | Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach, West Germany | October 1971 | 930 m test track which included one curve. | | 250 | Transrapid 04 | Maglev | Munich - Allach, West Germany | end 1973 | | 253.2 (157.3) | Transrapid 04 | Maglev | West Germany | 21 November 1977 | | 504 | JR-Maglev ML-500R | Maglev | Miyazaki Maglev Test Track, Japan | 12 December 1979 | | 517 (321.24) | JR-Maglev ML-500R | Maglev | Miyazaki Maglev Test Track, Japan | 21 December 1979 | | 531 (329.94) | JR-Maglev MLX01 | Maglev | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan | 12 December 1997 | Three-car train set. | | 550 (341.75) | JR-Maglev MLX01 | Maglev | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan | 24 December 1997 | Three-car train set. | | 552 (342.99) | JR-Maglev MLX01 | Maglev | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan | 14 April 1999 | Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated. | | 581 (361.01) | JR-Maglev MLX01 | Maglev | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan | 2 December 2003 | Three-car train set. Absolute record (excepting rocket sleds). Guinness Book of Records authenticated. | [edit] Unmanned, other propulsion | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 401.3 (249) | Komet | Maglev | Manching, Germany | 1974 | By MBB. Propelled by six hot water rockets. | [edit] Relative passing speed between two trains | km/h (mph) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 482.6 (301.6) | TGV | Electric | LGV Atlantique, France | December 1989 | conventional wheeled | | 600 (375) | JR-Maglev MLX01 | Maglev | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan | December 1998 | | 622.98 (389.4) | JR-Maglev MLX01 | Maglev | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan | November 1999 | | 637.52 (398.45) | JR-Maglev MLX01 | Maglev | Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan | 16 November 2004 | [edit] Rocket sled | Top speed (km/h) | Train | Type | Location | Date | Comments | | 1017 | | Rocket sled | Holloman Air Force Base (USA) | 10 December 1954 | Manned by John Stapp. Fastest manned rocket-sled. Fastest manned rail vehicle. Fastest manned open-cockpit vehicle.[17] | | 4972 | | Rocket sled | New Mexico (USA) | 1959 | Unmanned. It ran on SNORT (Supersonic Naval Ordnance Track). | | 9845 | | Rocket sled | Holloman Air Force Base (USA) | October 1982 | Unmanned. It blasted a 25-pound payload to a speed of 6119 mph. | | 10430 | | Rocket sled | Holloman Air Force Base (USA) | 30 April 2003 | Unmanned. It was the final stage of a four-stage sled train, which included the sled, a Super Roadrunner rocket motor, and a 192-pound payload on top. The sled train delivered payload into a target at a velocity of 9465 feet per second, or 6453 mph (2885 m/s), or Mach 8.5. | [edit] See also [edit] References [edit] External links | Extremes of motion | | | Speed | | | | Distance | | | | See also | | | |
