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Railway speed record

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Rocket sled that achieved Mach 8.5
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)
John Stapp riding I rocket sled at Edwards Air Force Base

Determination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".

The world record for manned passenger trains is held by Toby Conrad L0 Series, having achieved 603 km/h (375 mph) on a 42.8 km magnetic-levitation track in April 2015.[1]

The world record for conventional wheeled manned passenger trains is held by a specially tuned TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). Reduced to three cars with higher voltage, larger wheels and higher-tension pantograph wires, it broke the world record in April 2007, reaching 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) on a 140 km section of track.[2]

The fastest manned rail vehicle was a manned rocket sled, which carried USAF Colonel John Stapp at 1,017 km/h (632 mph).

Unmanned rocket sleds that ride on rails have reached over 10,400 km/h (6,460 mph), equivalent to Mach 8.5.

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 Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[1]
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]
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 Proto. Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.[citation needed]
550 km/h (342 mph) 1997-12-24 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC Proto. Three-car train set.[citation needed]
517 km/h (321 mph) 1979-12-21 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
504 km/h (313 mph) 1979-12-12 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
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]
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.[citation needed]
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto [citation needed]
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto [citation needed]
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center US LIMRV [7] Loc Gas turbine Proto
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
393.8 km/h (244 mph) 2016-02-26 AV Milano-Torino Italy ETR400 Frecciarossa 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 [citation needed]
362 Km/h (225 mph) 2009-2-4 Monte Bibele tunnel (Bologna-Firenze HSL) Italy ETR 500-Y Multi AC Tuned World record in tunnel .[8]
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.[9][10]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alsthom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned [citation needed]
275 km/h (171 mph) 1967-12-20 Trenton and New Brunswick, New Jersey US United Aircraft Corp. (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 Proto. [citation needed]
250 km/h (155 mph) 1973 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
245 km/h

(152mph)

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. [citation needed]
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod. [citation needed]
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[citation needed]
202.58 km/h (126 mph) 1938-03-07 [[East Coast Main

Line]] between Peterborough and Grantham

UK LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard Loc Steam Unkn. Authenticated speed. International Steam Record Holder to this day.
168.5 km/h (105 mph) 1935-03-05 East Coast Main Line near Essendine UK LNER Class A3 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated run at over 100 mph with complete, surviving documentation.[citation needed]
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[11]
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.[citation needed]
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.[12]
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge[citation needed]
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed[by whom?][citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]
46 km/h (29 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [13]
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 UK Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]

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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto [citation needed]
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto [citation needed]
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center US LIMRV [7] Loc Gas turbine Proto
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
380 km/h (236 mph) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi AC Tuned [citation needed]
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.[9][10]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alsthom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned [citation needed]
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alsthom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod. [citation needed]
202.6 km/h (126 mph) 1938-07-03 UK LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam Unkn. [14][15] 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.[16]
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod. [citation needed]
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[citation needed]
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 Unkn. Authenticated speed. Some sources say 112.5 mph.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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[11]
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.[12]
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge[citation needed]
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed[by whom?][citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]
46 km/h (29 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [13]
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 UK Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]

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.[citation needed]
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[17]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu [18]
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.[citation needed]
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
416.6 km/h (259 mph) 2010-09-28 Shanghai–Hangzhou HSR China CRH380A Multi Single phase Unmod. [19]
408.4 km/h (254 mph) 1988-12-12 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 Multi Single phase Tuned [citation needed]
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi Single phase Proto. [citation needed]
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 [20][21]
380 km/h (236 mph) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi Single phase Tuned [citation needed]
362 km/h (225 mph) 2009-02-03 Between Florence and Bologna Italy ETR 500 Y1 Multi Single phase Tuned Indoor world speed record, in the Monte Bibele tunnel on the high speed line between Florence and Bologna.[22][23]
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.[9][24]
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.[9][10]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alstom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned [citation needed]
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[25]
286 km/h (178 mph) 1972-02-24 Sanyō Shinkansen Japan Class 951 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto. [25]
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[25]
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alstom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod. [citation needed]
210.2 km/h (131 mph) 1903-10-28 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany AEG Drehstrom-Triebwagen Multi Triphase Proto. Many sources say 27 October.[26][27][28]
203 km/h (126 mph) 1939-20-07 Between Florence and Milan Italy ETR 200 Multi DC Unmod. Record average speed between Bologna and Milan[29]
203 km/h (126 mph) 1903-10-06 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany Siemens & Halske Drehstrom-Triebwagen Multi Triphase Proto. Some sources say 7 October, others say 200.99 km/h (125 mph) or an improbable 231 km/h (144 mph).[26][30][31]
174 km/h (108 mph) 1988-04-11 UK Class 442 (Wessex Electric) unit 2401 Multi DC 3rd rail Unkn. [citation needed]
162.5 km/h (101 mph) 1901 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany Siemens & Halske Drehstrom Multi Triphase Proto. Some sources say 160 km/h (99 mph) or 162 km/h (101 mph).[32]

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. [citation needed]
271 km/h (168 mph) 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed,[33] but no verification from an independent witness[34]
256.38 km/h (159 mph) 2002-06-12 Spain Talgo XXI Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed by Spanish manufacturer[citation needed]
238 km/h (148 mph) 1987-11-01 UK Class 43 (HST) Multi Diesel-elec Unkn. Current official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records
230.4 km/h (143 mph) 1973-06-12 UK Class 252 (HST prototype) Multi Diesel-elec Proto. [citation needed]
181 km/h (112 mph) 1934-05-26 US Pioneer Zephyr Loc Diesel-elec Unkn. [citation needed]

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 US UAC TurboTrain Multi Gas Unkn. [35]
230 km/h (143 mph) 1978-05-04 Alcázar de San Juan - Rio Záncara Spain RENFE Class 353 Single Diesel-hydraulic Unmod. [citation needed]
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod. [citation needed]
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod. World speed record. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[citation needed]

Steam

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

Speed record of steam rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
202.6 km/h (126 mph) 1938-07-03 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam Preserved [36][37] 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.[38]
200.4 km/h (125 mph) 1936-05-11 Germany Borsig DRG series 05 002 Loc Steam Unkn. Level grade.[39]
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.[citation needed]
182.4 km/h (113 mph) 1972-10-11 Germany BR 18 201 Loc Steam Unkn. The fastest operational steam locomotive as of 2011.[citation needed]
181.1 km/h (113 mph) 1935-04-05 US Milwaukee Road class A #2 Loc Steam Unkn. 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).[11]
180.3 km/h (112 mph) 1935-09-29 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link Loc Steam Unkn. Authenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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[11]
164 km/h (102 mph) 1904-05-09 UK GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro Loc Steam Preserved Claimed to be the first steam locomotive to reach100 mph (161 km/h).[citation needed]
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-11-30 UK LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Preserved In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[12]
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.[citation needed]
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge[citation needed]
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).[40][41]
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 UK Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod. [citation needed]

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 [7] 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:, .[42][43][44][45][46]
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.[citation needed]

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 Unkn. [47][48][49] 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) [50]
163 km/h (101 mph) 1959-07-31 JNR Tōkaidō Main Line Japan JNR 151 series Multi DC Unkn. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [50]
145 km/h (90 mph) 1957-09-27 JNR Tōkaidō Main Line Japan Odakyū 3000 series SE Romancecar Multi DC Unkn. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [51]
136 km/h (85 mph) 1914 South-West Africa OMEG Rail motor coach No. «Kronprinz» Single Gasoline Unkn. 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) Summer 1914.[51]
129 km/h (80 mph) 1954-12-15 JNR Tokaido Main Line Japan JNR C62 steam locomotive No. C62 17 Loc Steam Unkn. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [52]

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[1]
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.[citation needed]
550 km/h (342 mph) 1997-12-24 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC Proto. Three-car train set.[citation needed]
517 km/h (321 mph) 1979-12-21 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
504 km/h (313 mph) 1979-12-12 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
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 [7] 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. [citation needed]
250 km/h (155 mph) 1973 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC Proto. [citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]

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 3 miles (5 km)* the sled was in a helium tube to reduce air friction.[53]
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).[citation needed]
4,972 km/h (3,089 mph) 1959 China Lake, California US Rocket sled Single Rocket Proto. Unmanned. On SNORT (Supersonic Naval Ordnance Track).[citation needed]
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.[54] Zero to 1,017 km/h (632 mph) and back to zero in 1,100 metres (3,500 ft) total.[55]

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 on average operating speeds of conventional wheeled vehicles
Average speed Top speed Train Type Location From To Distance Date from Date to Comments
313.0 km/h (194 mph) 350 km/h (217 mph) CRH2 Single phase China Wuhan Guangzhou North 922.0 km (573 mi) 2009 2011 On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway until July 2011[citation needed]
283.7 km/h (176 mph) CRH380A Single phase China Shijiazhuang Zhengzhou 383.0 km (238 mi) 2010 On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway[56]
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) 2007 On the LGV Est[57]
263.4 km/h (164 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) E5 Series Shinkansen Single phase Japan Omiya Sendai 294.1 km (183 mi) 2013 Operating the Hayabusa service on the Tohoku Shinkansen line[58]
263.3 km/h (164 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex Single phase France Lyon-St Exupéry Aix-en-Provence 289.6 km (180 mi) 2005 On the LGV Méditerranée[citation needed]
263.2 km/h (164 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) E6 Series Shinkansen Single phase Japan Sendai Morioka 171.1 km (106 mi) 2013 Operating the Komachi service on the Tohoku Shinkansen line[59]
256.0 km/h (159 mph) 300 km/h (186 mph) N700-7000/8000 series Single phase Japan Hiroshima Kokura 192.0 km (119 mi) 2011 Operating the Mizuho service on the Sanyo Shinkansen line[60]
250.43 km/h (156 mph) 300 km/h (186 mph) Nozomi Shinkansen Single phase Japan Hiroshima Kokura 192.0 km (119 mi) 1997 Operated by 500 Series Shinkansen[citation needed]
249.5 km/h (155 mph) 431 km/h (268 mph) Shanghai Maglev Train Magnetic levitation (EMS) China Shanghai Pudong International Airport central Pudong 30.5 km (19 mi) 2004 Operated by Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co., Ltd.
163.0 km/h (101 mph) 200 km/h (124 mph) Etendard Single phase France St-Pierre-des-Corps Poitiers 100.0 km (62 mi) 1973 1989 Class CC6500 locomotive, now by TGV[citation needed]
162.8 km/h (101 mph) 210 km/h (130 mph) Hikari Shinkansen Single phase Japan Tokyo Shin-Osaka 515.0 km (320 mi)} 1965 Stopped at Nagoya and Kyoto[citation needed]
132.1 km/h (82 mph) 160 km/h (99 mph) Mistral Single phase France Paris Dijon 315.0 km (196 mi) 1964 1981 [citation needed]
134.05 km/h (83 mph) [61] 186.68 km/h (116 mph) Denver Zephyr Diesel-elec. US Chicago Denver 1,636 km (1,017 mi) 1936 1956 [11] A one-time run (not a regular schedule)
The actual mean speed was 66 km/h (41 mph)[62]
130.4 km/h (81 mph) 161 km/h (100 mph) Morning Hiawatha Steam US Sparta, Wisconsin Portage, Wisconsin 126.0 km (78 mi) 1939 1971 78.3 miles (126.0 km) in 58 minutes,[11] 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) 1933 1939 DMU, 98 passengers[citation needed]
114.8 km/h (71 mph) 148.7 km/h (92 mph) Cheltenham Spa Express Steam UK Swindon London 124.3 km (77 mi) 1932 1960 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 First Great Western in 57 minutes with Class 43 HST.[citation needed]

See also

References

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