List of speed records in rail transport


This article provides an overview of speed records in rail transport. It is divided into absolute records for rail vehicles and fastest connections in the timetable.

Current speed records

The world record for a conventional wheeled passenger train is held by a modified French TGV high-speed code named V150, set in 2007 when it reached on a section of LGV Est line, part of the Trans-European high-speed rail network. Japan's experimental maglev train L0 Series achieved on a magnetic levitation track in 2015.
Under commercial traffic and practical conditions where trains carry passengers across from one station to another, the world records for top operating speeds of maglev and single-phase trains are held respectively by China's Shanghai Maglev Train with a top speed of and CR400 Fuxing Hao at. They are followed by France's TGV Duplex, Japan's E5 Series Shinkansen and the German ICE 3 which all have maximum operating speeds of for commercial services.

Past world speed records

Legend:
; Arr : Disposition and number of elements forming the train.
; Power: DC, DC 3rd rail, AC, Single phase, Triphase, Diesel-elec., Gas, Steam, Diesel-hydraulic, Propeller, Rocket, Jet
; State

All passenger trains

The following is a partial list of absolute world speed records for all trains designed to carry passengers, regardless of gauge, propulsion or type of rail.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArrPowerStateComments
2015-04-21Yamanashi Test TrackJapanL0 SeriesMultiAC Proto.Seven-car train set, manned
2015-04-16Yamanashi Test TrackJapanL0 SeriesMultiAC Proto.Seven-car train set, manned
2003-12-02Yamanashi Test TrackJapanMLX01MultiAC Proto.Three-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.
2007-04-03LGV EstFranceSNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402MultiACTunedExtensive modifications. Set formed of 5 cars. Current world record on steel rails.
2007-04-01LGV EstFranceSNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402MultiACTunedSet formed of 5 cars.
1990-05-09LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325MultiACTunedExtensive modifications.
2003-11-12Shanghai Maglev TrainChinaTransrapid SMTMultiAC Unmod.Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004
2011-01-10Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380BLMultiSingle phaseTuned12-car trainset
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380ALMultiSingle phaseTuned16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu
1990-12-05LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325MultiACTunedExtensive modifications.
2023-06-28Fuzhou-Xiamen HSRChinaCR400AF-J-0002MultiACProto8-car train with parts for CR450
2013-03-28Gyeongbu high-speed railwaySouth KoreaHyundai Rotem HEMU-430XMultiACProtosix-car train set, maximum speed test
1974-08-14High Speed Ground Test CenterUnited StatesLIMRVLocGas turbineProto
1988LGV Sud-EstFranceSNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88MultiAC
1988-05-01Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railwayGermanyIntercity Experimental MultiACProtoThe first time that a railway vehicle broke the 400 km/h mark. The official world record was beaten just one year later by the French TGV.
2007-04-03LGV EstFranceSNCF TGV POS Set No. 4404MultiACunmodSet formed of 10 cars -The 4404 train opens the way at 380 km/h for record breaker Tgv 4402 V150 train.
2009-02-04Monte Bibele tunnel ItalyETR 500-YMultiACTunedWorld record in tunnel.
2003-07-30High Speed 1United KingdomAlstom Eurostar Tgv 3313/4, British Rail Class 373MultiACUnmodThe speed of 334.7 km/h was recorded at Nashenden Valley, just outside Rochester.
1955-03-29"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceJeumont-Schneider SNCF BB 9003-9004LocDCTunedPulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.
1974-12-08"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceTGV001MultiACprotoTGV first prototype
2007-09-14Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway between Ankara and Eskişehir.TurkeyETR 500 Y2MultiACUnmod.Turkish railway speed record. Record set during testing of the high-speed railway, 18 months before revenue service began.
1954-02-21FranceSNCF CC 7107LocDCunmod
1993-10-05Saint Petersburg — MoscowRussiaTEP80LocDiesel-elecProto.Claimed, but no verification from an independent witness
2002-06-12, 2002-07-10Madrid - Barcelona, Olmedo-Medina del CampoSpainTalgo XXIMultiDiesel-elecProto.Claimed by the company for both dates.
1987-11-01East Coast Main LineUnited KingdomClass 43 MultiDiesel-elecModifiedCurrent official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records
1973-06-12East Coast Main LineUnited KingdomHST prototypeMultiDiesel-elecProto.
1936-02-17GermanyDRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig"MultiDiesel-elecUnmod.First diesel train faster than
1938-03-07East Coast Main Line between Peterborough and GranthamUnited KingdomLNER Class A4 4468 MallardLocSteamUnmod.Authenticated speed. World Steam Speed Record Holder to this day. Analysis of the original dynamometer rolls in 2018 however points to several issues with the original authentication and a sustained maximum speed of 199.36 km/h.
1934-07-20United StatesMilwaukee Road class F6 #6402LocSteamUnmodA point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged on from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and for a stretch
1934-11-30East Coast Main LineUnited KingdomLNER Class A3 4472 Flying ScotsmanLocSteamUnmod.In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated by a steam locomotive.
1829Rainhill TrialsUnited KingdomStephenson's RocketLocSteamUnmod.

Conventional wheeled

The following is a list of verified absolute world speed records for conventional wheeled rail vehicles.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArr.PowerStateComments
2007-04-03LGV EstFranceSNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402MultiACTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Current world record on steel rails.
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380BLMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380ALMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu
2013-03-28Gyeongbu high-speed railwaySouth KoreaHyundai Rotem HEMU-430XMultiACProto
1988-05-01Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railwayGermanyIntercity Experimental MultiACProtoThe first time that a railway vehicle broke the 400 km/h mark. The record was beaten just one year later by the French TGV.
2003-07-30High Speed 1United KingdomEurostar 3313/4, British Rail Class 373MultiACUnmodThe speed of 334.7 km/h was recorded at Nashenden Valley, just outside Rochester.
1955-03-29"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceJeumont-Schneider SNCF BB 9003-9004LocDCTunedPulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.
1993-10-05Saint Petersburg — MoscowRussiaTEP80LocDiesel-elecProto.Claimed, but no verification from an independent witness
1987-11-01East Coast Main LineUnited KingdomClass 43 MultiDiesel-elecModifiedCurrent official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records
1973-06-12East Coast Main LineUnited KingdomHST prototypeMultiDiesel-elecProto.
1936-02-17GermanyDRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig"MultiDiesel-elecUnmod.World speed record. First diesel train faster than
1938-07-03United KingdomLNER Class A4 No. 4468 MallardLocSteamunknownDownhill grade. Data indicates peak speed, mean speed . Mallard suffered an overheated crankpin during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days. This is the standing record for a steam locomotive. Analysis of the original dynamometer rolls in 2018 however points to several issues with the original authentication and a sustained maximum speed of 199.36 km/h.
1934-07-20United StatesMilwaukee Road class F6 #6402LocSteamUnmodA point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged on from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and for a stretch
1934-11-30East Coast Main LineUnited KingdomLNER Class A3 4472 Flying ScotsmanLocSteamUnmod.In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated by a steam locomotive.
1829Rainhill TrialsUnited KingdomStephenson's RocketLocSteamUnmod.