Railway speed record

The world record for a conventional wheeled passenger train is held by France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse), set in 2007 when it reached 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) on a 140 km section of track.[1]

An L0 Series trainset, holding the non-conventional train world speed record of 603 km/h (375 mph)
TGV 4402 (operation V150) reaching 574.8 km/h (357 mph)

Japan's experimental maglev train L0 Series achieved 603 km/h (375 mph) on a 42.8 km magnetic levitation track in 2015.[2]

World speed records

Legend :

  • Arr (Arrangement) : Disposition and number of elements forming the train.
Loc (One locomotive pulling one or more cars)
Multi (Multi Motorized Elements)
Single (Single rail vehicle).

All passenger trains

The following is a complete list of absolute world speed records for all trains designed to carry passengers, regardless of gauge, propulsion or type of rail,

Speed Date Line Country Train Arr Power State Comments
603 km/h (375 mph) 2015-04-21 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[2]
590 km/h (367 mph) 2015-04-16 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[3]
581 km/h (361 mph) 2003-12-02 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Three-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.[4]
574.8 km/h (357 mph) 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[5] Current world record on steel rails.
552 km/h (343 mph) 1999-04-14 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.
550 km/h (342 mph) 1997-12-24 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Three-car train set.
517 km/h (321 mph) 1979-12-21 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC (Maglev) Proto.
515.3 km/h (320 mph) 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
504 km/h (313 mph) 1979-12-12 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC (Maglev) Proto.
501 km/h (311 mph) 2003-11-12 Shanghai Maglev Train China Transrapid SMT Multi AC (Maglev) Unmod. Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004[6]
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[7]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu [8]
482.4 km/h (300 mph) 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
421.4 km/h (262 mph) 2013-03-28 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HEMU-430X Multi AC Proto six-car train set. maximum speed test.
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center United States LIMRV [9] Loc Gas turbine Proto
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi AC Proto.
403.7 km/h

(250 mph)

 2006-07-16 Madrid-Barcelona HSL Spain Renfe Class 103 Multi AC Unmod. Currently holds the record of the fastest unmodified AC trainset (non Maglev) in the world.
393.8 km/h (245 mph) 2016-02-26 AV Milano-Torino Italy ETR 1000 Multi AC Unmod.
380 km/h (236 mph) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi AC Tuned
362 km/h (225 mph) 2009-02-04 Monte Bibele tunnel (Bologna-Firenze HSL) Italy ETR 500-Y Multi AC Tuned World record in tunnel.[10]
352.4 km/h (219 mph) 2004-12-16 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HSR-350x Multi AC Proto
331 km/h (206 mph) 1955-03-29 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Jeumont-Schneider BB 9004 Loc DC Tuned Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.[11][12]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alsthom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned
275 km/h (171 mph) 1967-12-20 Northeast Corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick, New Jersey United States UAC TurboTrain GTEL -- Unmod. --
253.2 km/h (157 mph) 1977-11-21 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto.
250 km/h (155 mph) 1973 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto.
245 km/h (152 mph) 1980 Rosslyn to De Wildt South Africa South Africa South African Class 6E Loc DC Proto. High speed pantographs was tested for British rail on locomotive number E1525. The idea was abandoned thereafter.
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alsthom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod.
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Nazi Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Nazi Germany DRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[13][14] }
203 km/h (126 mph) 1938-20-07 Bologna-Milano line between Pontenure and Piacenza Italy FS Class ETR 200 Loc DC Unmod.
202.58 km/h (126 mph) 1938-03-07 East Coast Main Line between Peterborough and Grantham United Kingdom LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard Loc Steam Unmod. 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 (124mph)[15].
177 km/h (110 mph) 1945-3-30 Fort Wayne Line United States Pennsylvania Railroad Class S2 #6200 Loc Steam Turbine Unmod. During a test run officially arranged by PRR on 30 March 1945, S2 #6200 with a dynamometer car towed, was able to pull a 17-car train over a distance of 48 kilometers at a speed of 110 mph (180 km/h) between Fort Wayne and Chicago. Ernest F G Cox, a British locomotive engineer, once travelled on the footplate and reported that "100mph was maintained and exceeded for 12 consecutive minutes".
168.5 km/h (105 mph) 1934-11-30 East Coast Main Line near Essendine United Kingdom LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated run at over 100 mph with complete, surviving documentation.
166.6 km/h (104 mph) 1934-07-20 United States Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[16]
164 km/h (102 mph) 1971-10 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 02 Single AC (Maglev) Proto. 930 m test track which included one curve.
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-11-30 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[17]
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 United Kingdom Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge Last land speed record held by rail vehicles.
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 United Kingdom Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed
96.6 km/h (60 mph) 1848 United States Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.
90 km/h (56 mph) 1971-05-06 MBB's Ottobrunn factory West Germany MBB Prinzipfahrzeug Single AC Proto. 660 m test track. Near Munich. MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle.
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway United Kingdom Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod.
46 km/h (29 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials United Kingdom Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [18]
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 United Kingdom Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod.
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 United Kingdom Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod.

Conventional wheeled

The following is a list of verified absolute world speed records for conventional wheeled rail vehicles.

Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
574.8 km/h (357 mph) 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[5] Current world record on steel rails.
515.3 km/h (320 mph) 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[19]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu [20]
482.4 km/h (300 mph) 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
421.4 km/h (262 mph) 2013-03-28 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HEMU-430X Multi AC Proto six-car train set. maximum speed test.
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi AC Proto.
380 km/h (236 mph) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi AC Tuned
352.4 km/h (219 mph) 2004-12-16 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HSR-350x Multi AC Proto
331 km/h (206 mph) 1955-03-29 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Jeumont-Schneider BB 9004 Loc DC Tuned Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.[11][12]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alsthom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alsthom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod.
202.6 km/h (126 mph) 1938-07-03 UK LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam unknown [21][22] Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed 202.6 km/h (126 mph), mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h (125 mph). Mallard suffered an overheated crankpin during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[23] 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 (124mph).[24]
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.
213 km/h (132 mph) 2018-09-08 Greece FS ETR 485 (Pendolino) Multi Electric Unknown
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)
180.3 km/h (112 mph) 1935-09-29 East Coast Main Line between Biggleswade and Sandy UK LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link Loc Steam unknown Authenticated speed. Some sources say 112.5 mph.
168.5 km/h (105 mph) 1935-03-05 East Coast Main Line near Essendine UK LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated run at over 100 mph with complete, surviving documentation.
166.6 km/h (104 mph) 1934-07-20 US Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[16]
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-11-30 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[17]
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed
96.6 km/h (60 mph) 1848 US Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod.
46 km/h (29 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [18]
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod.
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 UK Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod.

Electric

The following is a list of speed records for rail vehicles with electric traction motors and powered by electricity transferred to the train.

Speed records of electric locomotive and electric multiple unit trains
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
574.8 km/h (357 mph) 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi Single phase Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[5] Current world record.
515.3 km/h (320 mph) 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi Single phase Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[25]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu [26]
482.4 km/h (300 mph) 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325|- Multi Single phase Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto
421.4 km/h (262 mph) 2013-03-28 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HEMU-430X Multi Single phase Proto six-car train set. maximum speed test.
416.6 km/h (259 mph) 2010-09-28 Shanghai–Hangzhou HSR China CRH380A Multi Single phase Unmod. [27]
408.4 km/h (254 mph) 1988-12-12 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 Multi Single phase Tuned
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi Single phase Proto.
403.7 km/h (251 mph) 2006-07-15 Guadalajara-Calatayud, Spain Siemens Velaro E (AVE S-103) Multi Single phase Unmod. 15–16 July [28][29]
380 km/h (236 mph) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi Single phase Tuned
362 km/h (225 mph) 2009-02-03 Bologna–Florence high-speed railway Italy ETR 500 Y1 Multi Single phase Tuned Indoor Italian speed record, in the Monte Bibele tunnel on the high speed line between Florence and Bologna.[30][31]
357 km/h (222 mph) 2006-09-02 Nuremberg-Munich high-speed rail line Germany Siemens EuroSprinter ES64U4 No. 1216 050-5 Loc Single phase Unmod. On Nuremberg-Munich high-speed rail line, locomotive owned by ÖBB, pulling one car.[11][32]
331 km/h (206 mph) 1955-03-29 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Jeumont-Schneider BB 9004 Loc DC Tuned Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.[11][12]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alstom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned
319 km/h (198 mph) 1979-12-07 Oyama test track Japan Class 961 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto. test track, now part of Tōhoku Shinkansen[33]
286 km/h (178 mph) 1972-02-24 Sanyō Shinkansen Japan Class 951 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto. [33]
256 km/h (159 mph) 1963-03-30 Odawara test track Japan Class 1000 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto. Test track now part of Tōkaidō Shinkansen[33]
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alstom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod.
210.2 km/h (131 mph) 1903-10-28 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany AEG Experimental three-phase railcar Multi Triphase Proto. Many sources say 27 October.[34][35][36]
203 km/h (126 mph) 1939-20-07 Florence–Bologna "direttissima" and Bologna-Milan lines Italy ETR 200 Multi DC Unmod. Record average speed between Bologna and Milan[37]
203 km/h (126 mph) 1903-10-06 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany Siemens & Halske Experimental three-phase railcar Multi Triphase Proto. Some sources say 7 October, others say 200.99 km/h (125 mph) or an improbable 231 km/h (144 mph).[34][38][39]
174 km/h (108 mph) 1988-04-11 South Western Main Line UK Class 442 (Wessex Electric) unit 2401 Multi DC 3rd rail Unmod.
162.5 km/h (101 mph) 1901 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany Siemens & Halske Experimental three-phase railcar Multi Triphase Proto. Some sources say 160 km/h (99 mph) or 162 km/h (101 mph).[40]

Fuel-electric

The following is a list of speed records for rail vehicles with on-board fuel to generate electricity for traction motors such as diesel-electric locomotive, diesel electric multiple unit and gas turbine-electric locomotive trains.

Speed record of fuel-electric rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
318 km/h (198 mph) 1972-12-08 France TGV 001 prototype Multi Gas Proto.
271 km/h (168 mph) 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed,[41] but no verification from an independent witness[42]
256.38 km/h (159 mph) 2002-06-12 Spain Talgo XXI Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed by Spanish manufacturer
238 km/h (148 mph) 1987-11-01 East Coast Main Line UK Class 43 (HST) Multi Diesel-elec Modified Current official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records[43]
230.4 km/h (143 mph) 1973-06-12 East Coast Main Line UK HST prototype Multi Diesel-elec Proto. [44]
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. World speed record. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[13][14]
181 km/h (112 mph) 1934-05-26 US Pioneer Zephyr Loc Diesel-elec Unmod.

Fuel-mechanic

The following is a list of speed records for rail vehicles with on-board fuel to mechanical energy to drive vehicle's wheels such as diesel-hydraulic trains and gas turbine locomotive trains that use mechanical transmission to power the drive wheels.

Speed record of fuel-mechanic rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
275 km/h (171 mph) 1967-12-20 Northeast Corridor US UAC TurboTrain Multi Gas unknown [45]
230 km/h (143 mph) 1978-05-04 Alcázar de San Juan - Rio Záncara Spain RENFE Class 353 Single Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.

Steam

The following is a list of speed records for steam locomotives.

Note: All records with a faster speed than 202.6 km/h (126 mph) (the record set by Mallard) are claimed and have not been officially verified.

Speed record of steam rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
251 km/h (156 mph) 1945 Fort Wayne Line US Pennsylvania Railroad Class S1 #6100 Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed. The locomotive was claimed to have exceeded 156 mph (251 km/h) on the Fort Wayne-Chicago run, as it was reported that the PRR received a fine for the feat. An article "Riding the Gargantua of the Rails" in the Dec 1941 Popular Mechanics Magazine cites a speed of 133.4 miles per hour (214.7 km/h).[46] In the German trade press and literature from 1945 there was a report of a record run of the S1, citing railroad officials that a speed of 141 mph (227 km/h) had been reached.
225 km/h (140 mph) 1948 US Pennsylvania Railroad Class T1 Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed. A technician charged with determining the cause of frequent poppet valve failures on the T1s claimed to have observed them being operated at speeds of up to 140 mph (225 km/h) to make up time.
202.6 km/h (126 mph) 1938-07-03 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam Unmod. [47][22] Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed 202.6 km/h (126 mph), mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h (125 mph). Mallard suffered an overheated center big end bearing (or crankpin) during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[23] Mallard's record is the standing world speed record for a steam locomotive.
200.4 km/h (125 mph) 1936-05-11 Germany Borsig DRG series 05 002 Loc Steam Brandenburg Level grade.[48]
185.07 km/h (115 mph) 1905-06-11 US Pennsylvania Railroad E2 #7002 Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed. Clocked at Crestline, Ohio at 127.1 mph (205 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.
182.4 km/h (113 mph) 1972-10-11 Germany BR 18 201 Loc Steam expired The fastest operational steam locomotive as of 2011.. After expiration of the frame and vessel licences end of 2018 the locomotive now (2019) is stored. Title of "fastest steam locomotive ready-to-run" actually is vacant.
181.1 km/h (113 mph) 1935-04-05 US Milwaukee Road class A #2 Loc Steam unknown Claimed to have sustained 112.5 mph (181 km/h) for 14 miles (23 km). Average speed for 136 miles (219 km) between Milwaukee and New Lisbon, Wisconsin was 74.9 mph (121 km/h).[16]
180.3 km/h (112 mph) 1935-09-29 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link Loc Steam unknown Authenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph.
177 km/h (110 mph) 1945-3-30 Fort Wayne Line US Pennsylvania Railroad Class S2 #6200 Loc Steam Turbine Unmod. During a test run officially arranged by PRR on 30 March 1945, S2 #6200 with a dynamometer car towed, was able to pull a 17-car train over a distance of 48 kilometers at a speed of 110 mph (180 km/h) between Fort Wayne and Chicago. Ernest F G Cox, a British locomotive engineer, once travelled on the footplate and reported that "100mph was maintained and exceeded for 12 consecutive minutes".
168.5 km/h (105 mph) 1935-03-05 UK LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus Loc Steam Unmod. First run at 100+ mph with complete, surviving documentation.
166.6 km/h (104 mph) 1934-07-20 US Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod. A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch.[16] This trip was a test run for the feasibility of a new planned high speed passenger train service between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul via Milwaukee, which came to fruition the next year as the Hiawatha.
164 km/h (102 mph) 1904-05-09 UK GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed to be the first steam locomotive to reach 100 mph (161 km/h).
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-11-30 UK LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[17]
149 km/h (92.3 mph) 1895-10-24 Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway US Brooks-built ten-wheeler and train Loc Steam Unmod. The engineer was presented with a memorial watch from the Webb C. Ball Company in a ceremony at the Brooks Locomotive Works offices on April 17, 1896.[49]
145 km/h (90 mph) 1895-08-22 UK LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke Loc Steam Unmod. Maximum speed claimed, although average speed record was authenticated.
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge
131 km/h (81 mph) 1893-05-10 US Empire State Express No. 999 Loc Steam Unmod. 112 mph (180 km/h) claimed, which would make it the first wheeled vehicle to exceed 100 mph (161 km/h).[50][51]
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed
96.6 km/h (60 mph) 1848 US Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 Rainhill,
Liverpool and Manchester Railway		 UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod.
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 Stockton and Darlington Railway UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod.
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 Merthyr Tramroad UK Richard Trevithick:
World's first railway steam locomotive		 Loc Steam Unmod. On 21 February 1804 it successfully carried 11.24 tons of coal, five wagons and 70 men over the full distance, in 4 hours and 5 minutes, at an average speed of 2.4 mph (3.9 km/h).[52]

Air propulsion

The following is a list of speed records for rail vehicles that use air propulsion to move rail vehicles while the wheels are rolling along the track.

Speed record of air propulsion rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center US LIMRV [9] Loc Gas turbine Proto
295.72 km/h (184 mph) 1966-07-23 Butler, Indiana to Stryker, Ohio US New York Central Budd RDC-3 M-497 Loc Jet Proto. Jet aero engines (retrofitted to roof)
280 km/h (174 mph) 1928-06-23 Germany Opel RAK III Loc Rocket Proto. Unmanned. Some sources say 254 km/h (158 mph) or 290 km/h (180 mph). See:, .[53][54][55][56][57]
230.2 km/h (143 mph) 1931-06-21 Berlin - Hamburg Germany Schienenzeppelin Single Propeller Proto. Propeller-pushed railcar with a gasoline (petrol) aero engine. Engine by BMW.
140 km/h (87 mph) 1921-07-24 Moscow-Tula Soviet Union Aerowagon Single Propeller Proto. Propeller-driven railcar with a gasoline (petrol) aero engine.

Using an air cushion and a Monorail, the Aérotrain set on 5 March 1974 a mean speed of 417.6 km/h (259.5 mph) and a peak speed of 430.4 km/h (267.4 mph).

Conventional wheeled — Narrow gauge
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr Power State Comments
245 km/h (152 mph) 1978-10-31 Between Westonaria and Midway South Africa SAR Class 6E1 (No. E1525) Loc Single phase unknown [58][59][60] Scheffel bogie
175 km/h (109 mph) 1960-11-21 JNR Tōkaidō Main Line Japan JNR KuMoYa93 test car Multi DC Proto. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [61]
163 km/h (101 mph) 1959-07-31 JNR Tōkaidō Main Line Japan JNR 151 series Multi DC unknown 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [61]
145 km/h (90 mph) 1957-09-27 JNR Tōkaidō Main Line Japan Odakyū 3000 series SE Romancecar Multi DC unknown 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [62]
136 km/h (85 mph) 1914 South-West Africa OMEG Rail motor coach No. «Kronprinz» Single Gasoline unknown 600 mm (1 ft 11 5⁄8 in) Summer 1914.[62]
129 km/h (80 mph) 1954-12-15 JNR Tokaido Main Line Japan JNR C62 steam locomotive No. C62 17 Loc Steam unknown 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [63]
120 km/h (75 mph) 1910s Java North Coast Line Dutch East Indies Staatsspoorwegen SS series 700 / Class C50 locomotive Loc Steam Abandoned 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

Maglev trains
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr Power State Comments
603 km/h (375 mph) 2015-04-21 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[2]
590 km/h (367 mph) 2015-04-16 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[3]
581 km/h (361 mph) 2003-12-02 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC Proto. Three-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.[4]
552 km/h (343 mph) 1999-04-14 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC Proto. Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.
550 km/h (342 mph) 1997-12-24 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC Proto. Three-car train set.
517 km/h (321 mph) 1979-12-21 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto.
504 km/h (313 mph) 1979-12-12 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto.
501 km/h (311 mph) 2003-11-12 Shanghai Maglev Train China Transrapid SMT Multi AC Unmod. Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004[6]
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center US LIMRV [9] Single Cable Proto
253.2 km/h (157 mph) 1977-11-21 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC Proto.
250 km/h (155 mph) 1973 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC Proto.
164 km/h (102 mph) 1971-10 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 02 Single AC Proto. 930 m test track which included one curve.
90 km/h (56 mph) 1971-05-06 MBB's Ottobrunn factory West Germany MBB Prinzipfahrzeug Single AC Proto. 660 m test track. Near Munich. MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle.

Rocket sleds
Speed Date Line Country Train Arrangmt Power State Comments
10,326 km/h (6,416 mph) 2003-04-29 Holloman Air Force Base US Rocket sled Single Rocket Proto. Unmanned. 6,416 mph (10,326 km/h) = Mach 8.4. Final stage of a four-stage sled train. Super Roadrunner rocket motor. 192 lb (87 kg) payload. For more than 2 miles (3 km) the sled was in a helium tube to reduce air friction.[64]
9,845 km/h (6,117 mph) 1982-10 Holloman Air Force Base US Rocket sled Single Rocket Proto. Unmanned. It accelerated a 25 lb (11 kg) payload to a speed of 6,119 mph (9,848 km/h).[65]
4,972 km/h (3,089 mph) 1959 China Lake, California US Rocket sled Single Rocket Proto. Unmanned. On SNORT (Supersonic Naval Ordnance Track).
3,495.6 km/h (2,172 mph) 2017-09-17 Xiangyang, Hubei China Rocket sled Single Rocket Unmanned. Dynamic simulation test of BeiDou receiver. [66]
1,017 km/h (632 mph) 1954-12-10 Holloman Air Force Base US Rocket sled Single Rocket Proto. Manned by John Stapp. Fastest manned rocket-sled. Fastest manned rail vehicle. Fastest manned open-cockpit vehicle.[67] Zero to 1,017 km/h (632 mph) and back to zero in 1,100 metres (3,500 ft) total.[68]

World fastest point-to-point average speeds in commercial operations

The following are the lists of world record average operating speeds between two stations. The average speeds are measured by the total time and the distance between the two stations.

Styles : [Currently active] - [Old service]

All Trains Commercially Operated
World record average operating speeds of trains in commercial traffic
Average speed Top speed Train Type Location From To Distance Duration Date from Date to Comments
316.7 km/h (197 mph) 350 km/h (217 mph) Fuxing Hao Single phase China Beijing Nanjing 1,018.6 km (633 mi) 193 min 2018 On Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway[69]
313.0 km/h (194 mph) 350 km/h (217 mph) CRH2 Single phase China Wuhan Guangzhou North 922.0 km (573 mi) 177 min 2009 2011 On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway until July 2011.
283.7 km/h (176 mph) 300 km/h (310 km/h with +10 tolerance) CRH380A Single phase China Shijiazhuang Zhengzhou 383.0 km (238 mi) 81 min 2010 On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway[70]
279.3 km/h (174 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex Single phase France Lorraine TGV Champagne-Ardenne

TGV

 167.6 km (104 mi) 36 min 2007 2010 On the LGV Est[71]
263.4 km/h (164 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) E5 series shinkansen Single phase Japan Ōmiya Sendai 294.1 km (183 mi) 67 min 2011 2017 With the Hayabusa service on the Tohoku Shinkansen line[72]
263.3 km/h (164 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex Single phase France Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport Aix-en-Provence 289.6 km (180 mi) 66 min 2005 2007 On the LGV Méditerranée[73]
261.8 km/h (163 mph) 300 km/h (186 mph) Nozomi Shinkansen Single phase Japan Hiroshima Kokura 192.0 km (119 mi) 44 min 1997 2005 Operated by 500 Series Shinkansen[73]
210.8 km/h (131 mph) 300 km/h (186 mph) ETR500, Frecciarossa 1000, ETR575 "Italo" Single phase Italy Milano Centrale Bologna Centrale 214.7 km (133 mi) 61 min 2008 On Milan-Bologna high speed railway
254.3 km/h (158 mph) 300 km/h (186 mph) TGV Single phase France Gare de Lille Europe Charles de Gaulle Airport 203.4 km (126 mi) 48 min 1995 1997 On LGV Interconnexion Est and LGV Nord[74]
163.0 km/h (101 mph) 200 km/h (124 mph) Etendard Single phase France Saint-Pierre-des-Corps Poitiers 100.0 km (62 mi) 37 min 1973 ? Class CC6500 locomotive, now by TGV
162.8 km/h (101 mph) 210 km/h (130 mph) Hikari Shinkansen Single phase Japan Tokyo Shin-Ōsaka Station 515.0 km (320 mi) 190 min 1965 ? Stopped at Nagoya and Kyoto
132.1 km/h (82 mph) 160 km/h (99 mph) Mistral Single phase France Paris Dijon 315.0 km (196 mi) 143 min 1964 ?
130.4 km/h (81 mph) 161 km/h (100 mph) Morning Hiawatha Steam United States Sparta, Wisconsin Portage, Wisconsin 126.0 km (78 mi) 58 min 1939 ? 78.3 miles (126.0 km) in 58 minutes,[16] Milwaukee Road class F7.
124.3 km/h (77 mph) 160 km/h (99 mph) Fliegender Hamburger Diesel-elec. Germany Berlin Hamburg 286.0 km (178 mi) 138 min 1933 1939 DMU, 98 passengers
114.8 km/h (71 mph) 148.7 km/h (92 mph) Cheltenham Spa Express Steam United Kingdom Swindon London 124.3 km (77 mi) 65 min 1932 1933 77.25 miles (124.32 km) in 65 minutes. Claimed by the Great Western Railway at the time to be the world's fastest train. Now operated by GWR in 49 minutes with Class 800 Hitachi Intercity Express Train. [75]

See also

References
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