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 (with standard equipment) 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 (when operating in France) which all have maximum operating speeds of for commercial services.
Past world speed records Legend: Arr (Arrangement) Disposition and number of elements forming the train. Loc One locomotive pulling one or more cars. Multi Multiple motorized elements on a single train. Single Single rail vehicle (i.e. railbus) Power DC, DC 3rd rail, AC, Single phase, Triphase, Diesel-elec., Gas, Steam, Diesel-hydraulic, Propeller, Rocket, Jet State "Proto." (Prototype) "Unmod." (Unmodified from vehicles in service) "Tuned" (Modified at some level for a better performance) "Unknown"
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. Speed Date Line Country Train Arr Power State Comments 2015-04-21 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Seven-car train set, manned 2015-04-16 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Seven-car train set, manned 2003-12-02 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Three-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated. 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications. Set formed of 5 cars. Current world record on steel rails. 2007-04-01 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 5 cars. 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications. Set formed of 5 cars. Definitive record for TGV No. 325. 1990-05-09 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications. Set formed of 5 cars. First attempt for TGV No. 325. 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 2011-01-10 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Tuned 12-car trainset 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Tuned 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu 1990-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications.2023-06-28Fuzhou-Xiamen HSRChinaCR400AF-J-0002MultiACProto8-car train with parts for CR450 1996-07-26 Tokaido Shinkansen Japan Class 955 (300X) Multi AC Proto. 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 (STAR21) Multi AC Proto. 2013-03-28 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HEMU-430X Multi AC Proto six-car train set, maximum speed test 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center United States LIMRV Loc Gas turbine Proto 1988 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 Multi AC 1988-05-01 Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway Germany Intercity Experimental (ICE V) Multi AC Proto The 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.Jürgen Hörstel, Marcus Niedt: ICE – Neue Züge für neue Strecken. Orell-Füssli-Verlag, Zürich/ Wiesbaden 1991, ISBN 3-280-01994-X, p. 105–107. 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4404 Multi AC unmod Set formed of 10 cars -The 4404 train opens the way at 380 km/h for record breaker Tgv 4402 V150 train. 2009-02-04 Monte Bibele tunnel (Bologna-Firenze HSL) Italy ETR 500-Y Multi AC Tuned World record in tunnel. 1992-08-08 Sanyo Shinkansen Japan 500-900 Series (WIN350) Multi AC Proto. 2003-07-30 High Speed 1 United Kingdom Alstom Eurostar Tgv 3313/4, British Rail Class 373 Multi AC Unmod The speed of 334.7 km/h was recorded at Nashenden Valley, just outside Rochester. 1955-03-29 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Jeumont-Schneider SNCF BB 9003-9004 Loc DC Tuned Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test. 1979-12-07 Oyama Test Track (later part of the Tōhoku Shinkansen) Japan Class 961 Multi AC Proto. 1974-12-08 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France TGV001 Multi AC proto TGV first prototype 2007-09-14 Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway between Ankara and Eskişehir. Turkey ETR 500 Y2 Multi AC Unmod.Turkish railway speed record. Record set during testing of the high-speed railway, 18 months before revenue service began. 1954-02-21 France SNCF CC 7107 Loc DC unmod 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Loc Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed, but no verification from an independent witness2002-06-12, 2002-07-10Madrid - Barcelona, Olmedo-Medina del CampoSpainTalgo XXIMultiDiesel-elecProto.Claimed by the company for both dates. 1987-11-01 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom Class 43 (HST) Multi Diesel-elec Modified Current official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records 1973-06-12 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom HST prototype Multi Diesel-elec Proto. 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. First diesel train faster than Der SVT "Leipzig" 137 234 / 183 251-8" retrieved 21 August 2017.Ralf Roman Rossberg: Deutsche Eisenbahnfahrzeuge von 1838 bis Heute, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1988, Seite 128 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 (124 mph). 1934-07-20 United States Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged on from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and for a stretch 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 by a steam locomotive. 1829 Rainhill Trials United Kingdom Stephenson's Rocket 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 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Current world record on steel rails. 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications.TGV History and Speed Records 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications. 2013-03-28 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HEMU-430X Multi AC Proto six-car train set. maximum speed test. 1988-05-01 Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway Germany Intercity Experimental (ICE V) Multi AC Proto The first time that a railway vehicle broke the 400 km/h mark. The record was beaten just one year later by the French TGV. 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi AC Tuned Line voltage increased from 25 kV to 29 kV, wheels of a larger diameter, and gear ratios between motors and wheels increased. 2004-12-16 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HSR-350x Multi AC Proto 2003-07-30 High Speed 1 United Kingdom Eurostar 3313/4, British Rail Class 373 Multi AC Unmod The speed of 334.7 km/h was recorded at Nashenden Valley, just outside Rochester. 1955-03-29 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Jeumont-Schneider SNCF BB 9003-9004 Loc DC Tuned Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test. 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Loc Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed, but no verification from an independent witness 1987-11-01 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom Class 43 (HST) Multi Diesel-elec Modified Current official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records 1973-06-12 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom HST prototype Multi Diesel-elec Proto. 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. World speed record. First diesel train faster than 1938-07-03 United Kingdom LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam unknown Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed , mean speed (half-mile) . 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 (124 mph). 1934-07-20 United States Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged on from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and for a stretch 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 by a steam locomotive. 1829 Rainhill Trials United Kingdom Stephenson's Rocket 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.