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Railway speed record

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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)

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 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) on a 140 km (87 mi) section of track.[1] Japan's experimental maglev train L0 Series achieved 603 km/h (375 mph) on a 42.8 km (26.6 mi) magnetic levitation track in 2015.[2]

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 431 km/h (268 mph) and CR400 Fuxing Hao at 350 km/h (220 mph). They are followed by France's TGV Duplex and Japan's E5 Series Shinkansen which both have maximum operating speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph) for commercial services.[3]

World speed records

[edit]

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

[edit]

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
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[4]
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.[5]
574.8 km/h (357 mph) 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 5 cars.[6] Current world record on steel rails.
568 km/h (353 mph) 2007-04-01 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 5 cars.https://www.leparisien.fr/economie/le-tgv-bat-un-nouveau-record-a-568-km-h-31-03-2007-2007902722.php
515.3 km/h (320 mph) 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications.
510.6 km/h (317 mph) 1990-05-09 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications.https://www.railtarget.eu/freight/tgv-atlantique-325-celebrates-the-32nd-anniversary-of-its-5153-kmh-speed-record-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-record-train-2611.html
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[7]
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[8]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu[9]
482.4 km/h (300 mph) 1990-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications.https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1989/12/07/avec-482-4-km-h-contre-406-4-km-h-a-son-concurrent-allemand-le-tgv-reprend-le-record-du-monde_4164785_1819218.html

443.0 km/h (275.3 mph)

1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 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[10] Loc Gas turbine Proto
408.4 km/h (254 mph) 1988 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 Multi AC http://actgv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/30-ANS-DEJA.pdf
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway Germany Intercity Experimental (ICE V) Multi AC Proto Reached over 400 km/h in a tunnel[11]
403.7 km/h (251 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.
400 km/h (250 mph) 2019-12-14 Tohoku Shinkansen Japan Class E956 "ALFA-X" Multi AC Proto
393.8 km/h (245 mph) 2016-02-26 AV Milano-Torino Italy ETR 1000 Multi AC Unmod.
380 km/h (236 mph) 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4404 Multi AC unmod Set formed of 10cars -The 4404 train opens the way at 380 km/h for record breaker Tgv 4402 V150 train.http://fbrisou.free.fr/RAIL21/Record2007.htm
380 km/h (236 mph) 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.
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.[12]
352.4 km/h (219 mph) 2004-12-16 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HSR-350x Multi AC Proto
334.7 km/h (208 mph) 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.[13]
331 km/h (206 mph) 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.[14][15]
318 km/h (198 mph) 1974-12-08 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France TGV001 Multi AC proto TGV first prototype https://www.europe1.fr/economie/il-y-a-45-ans-le-1er-prototype-tgv-sortait-des-ateliers-de-belfort-2881958
303 km/h (188 mph) 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.[16]
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 France SNCF CC 7107 Loc DC unmod https://trainconsultant.com/2023/09/23/la-cc-7121-et-son-record-a-243-km-h-et-1954-les-raisons-dun-exploit/
303 km/h (188 mph) 2008-09-14 Western Main Line Sweden Bombardier Regina Multi AC Proto. Swedish national speed record.
275 km/h (171 mph) 1967-12-20 Northeast Corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick, New Jersey United States UAC TurboTrain GTEL -- Unmod. --
271 km/h (168 mph) 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Loc Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed,[17] but no verification from an independent witness[18]
256 km/h (159 mph) 2002-06-12, 2002-07-10 Madrid - Barcelona, Olmedo-Medina del Campo Spain Talgo XXI Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed by the company for both dates.[19][20]
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.
238 km/h (148 mph) 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[21]
230.4 km/h (143 mph) 1973-06-12 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom HST prototype Multi Diesel-elec Proto. [22]
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[23][24]
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 (124 mph).[25]
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[26]
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.[27]
48 km/h (30 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials United Kingdom Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [28]

Conventional wheeled

[edit]

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.[6] 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 Extensive modifications.
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[29]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu[30]
482.4 km/h (300 mph) 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Extensive modifications.
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.
380 km/h (236 mph) 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.
352.4 km/h (219 mph) 2004-12-16 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HSR-350x Multi AC Proto
334.7 km/h (208 mph) 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.[13]
331 km/h (206 mph) 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.[14][15]
271 km/h (168 mph) 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Loc Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed,[17] but no verification from an independent witness[18]
238 km/h (148 mph) 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[21]
230.4 km/h (143 mph) 1973-06-12 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom HST prototype Multi Diesel-elec Proto. [22]
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)[23][24]
202.6 km/h (126 mph) 1938-07-03 United Kingdom LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam unknown [31][32] 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.[33] 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).[34]
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[26]
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.[27]
48 km/h (30 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials United Kingdom Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [28]

Electric

[edit]

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.[6] Current world record.
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[35]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu[30]
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. [36]
403.7 km/h (251 mph) 2006-07-15 Madrid–Barcelona HSRbetween Guadalajara and Calatayud Spain Siemens Velaro E (AVE S-103) Multi Single phase Unmod. 15–16 July [37][38]
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.[39][40]
357 km/h (222 mph) 2006-09-02 Nuremberg–Ingolstadt high-speed railway Germany Siemens EuroSprinter ES64U4 No. 1216 050-5 Loc AC Unmod. On Nuremberg–Ingolstadt high-speed railway, locomotive owned by ÖBB, pulling one car.[14][41]
334.7 km/h (208 mph) 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.[13]
331 km/h (206 mph) 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.[14][15]
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[42]
286 km/h (178 mph) 1972-02-24 Sanyō Shinkansen Japan Class 951 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto. [42]
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[42]
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.[43][44][45]
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[46]
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).[43][47][48]
180 km/h (112 mph) 1941 Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad United States Electroliner Multi DC Unmod. When the sets were received in 1941, during one test run the traction motors were allowed full field shunt to determine absolute maximum speed. It reached just over 110 mph (180 km/h), but at that speed the train reached highway crossings before the crossing gates fully closed, a dangerous situation. Thereafter, the sets were limited to 90 mph (140 km/h).[49]
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).[50]
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-08 Northeast Corridor United States Pennsylvania Railroad class GG1 Loc Single Phase Unmod. First streamlined electric passenger train in the world, pulling 14 coaches at sustained speeds of 161km/h.
156 km/h (97 mph) 1930 Cincinnati and Lake Erie Railroad United States Red Devil (interurban) Single DC Unmod. Defeated a plane in a race for publicity.[51]
141.22 km/h (87.75 mph) 1972-01-31 LIRR Main Line between Woodside and Jamaica United States R44 (New York City Subway car) Multi DC Unmod. World speed record for a subway train. When half the motors were disabled to simulate the weight of a rush-hour crowd, it still reached 124 km/h (77 mph). The cars were capable of even higher speeds, as the consist was still accelerating as it approached the end of the designated test track.[52][53]

Fuel-electric

[edit]

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
271 km/h (168 mph) 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Loc Diesel-elec Proto. Has documentation and record of the speed,[17] but no verification from an independent witness.[18]
256 km/h (159 mph) 2002-06-12, 2002-07-10 Madrid - Barcelona, Olmedo-Medina del Campo Spain Talgo XXI Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed by the company for both dates.[19][20]
238 km/h (148 mph) 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[21]
230.4 km/h (143 mph) 1973-06-12 East Coast Main Line United Kingdom HST prototype Multi Diesel-elec Proto. [22]
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)[23][24]
181 km/h (112 mph) 1934-05-26 United States Pioneer Zephyr Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. World speed record. First streamlined diesel-electric train and the first multi-coach passenger train to reach a 181 km/h top speed.
177 km/h (110 mph) 1934-02-12 United States M-10000 Multi Gasoline-elec Unmod. World speed record. First streamlined gasoline-electric train and the first multi-coach passenger train to reach a 177 km/h top speed.

Fuel-mechanic

[edit]

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 United States UAC TurboTrain Multi Gas unknown [54]
129 km/h (80 mph) 1905 Union Pacific and Southern Pacific United States McKeen railmotor Single Railcar Gasoline Engine unknown First streamlined train in history with 152 units sold and used by Union Pacific and other railroad companies from 1905-1934.

Steam

[edit]

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 (compare rival claims section).

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 United Kingdom LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam Unmod. [55][32] 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.[33] 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 Unmod. Level grade.[56]
198 km/h (123 mph) 1934-12-27 New York Central Railroad (also B&A, THB, MC, CCC&StL) United States New York Central Hudson "Commodore Vanderbilt" Loc Steam Unmod. This was the first streamlined coal-fired steam train in history.
181.1 km/h (113 mph) 1935-04-05 United States Milwaukee Road class A #2 Loc Steam unknown This was the first streamlined oil-fired steam train in history. 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).[26]
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.[26] 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.
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.[27][note 1]
165 km/h (102.3 mph) 1904-05-4 Exeter to Bristol Line United Kingdom GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro Loc Steam Unmod. This was the first independently measured and published 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[57][note 2]
149 km/h (92.3 mph) 1895-10-24 Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway United States 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.[58]
160.9 km/h (100 mph) 1893-05-10 United States 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).[59][60] Unauthenticated and dubious.
48 km/h (30 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials United Kingdom Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [28]
8 km/h (5 mph)
[citation needed] 		1804-02-21 Merthyr Tramroad United Kingdom 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).[61][62]

Note:

  1. ^ The speed was measured and recorded using a mechanical device. The record was available for public inspection.
  2. ^ This was recorded by Charles Rous-Marten, a highly experienced railway journalist who subsequently published his notebook. But since the times were recorded using a stopwatch they must remain unauthenticated. His stated figure of 102.3 mph comes from a single quarter-mile taking 8.8 seconds on a stopwatch with a 0.2 second minimum interval; the next step, 9.0 seconds, would equate to 100 mph.

Air propulsion

[edit]

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 United States LIMRV[10] Loc Gas turbine Proto
295.72 km/h (184 mph) 1966-07-23 Butler, Indiana to Stryker, Ohio United States 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:, .[63][64][65][66][67]
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

[edit]
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 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [68][69][70] Scheffel bogie
210 km/h (130 mph) 1999 Queensland Rail North Coast Line Australia Electric Tilt Train Multi AC Unmod. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Tilting train[71]
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) [72]
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) [72]
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) [73]
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.[73]
129 km/h (80 mph) 1954-12-15 JNR Tokaido Main Line Japan JNR Class C62 No. C62 17 Loc Steam unknown 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [74]
127 km/h (79 mph) 1914 Indonesia Staatsspoorwegen SS Class 700 Single Steam Unmod. 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)[75]

Maglev trains

[edit]
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[4]
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.[5]
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]
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[7]
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center United States LIMRV[10] Single Cable Proto

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

[edit]

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.

All commercially operated trains

[edit]
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[76]
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[77]
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[78]
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[79]
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[80]
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[80]
249.5 km/h (155 mph) 431 km/h (268 mph) Shanghai Maglev Train AC (Maglev) China Longyang Road Pudong International Airport 29 km (18 mi) 7 minutes 20 seconds 2003 Average and maximum speeds during peak operation 09:00–10:45 and 15:00–15:45[81]
235.8 km/h (147 mph) 310 km/h (193 mph) AVE S-103 Single phase Spain Madrid-Atocha Barcelona-Sants 620.9 km (386 mi) 158 min 2008 On Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line
232.4 km/h (144 mph) 300 km/h (186 mph) ICE 3 Single phase Germany Frankfurt Airport Siegburg/Bonn 143.3 km (89 mi) 37 min 2006 On Cologne–Frankfurt high-speed rail line[82]
223.2 km/h (139 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) Al Boraq Single phase Morocco Tanger-Ville Kenitra-Ville 186 km (116 mi) 50 min 2018 On Casablanca–Tangier high-speed rail line
219.9 km/h (137 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) Eurostar e300/e320 Single phase United Kingdom, France London St Pancras Paris Gare du Nord 491 km (305 mi) 134 min 2007 On High Speed 1, Channel Tunnel, LGV Nord. On a trip 2007 the train took 124 min, which equals an average of 238.3 km/h (148 mph).[83]
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.[84] Historical
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 1971 78.3 miles (126.0 km) in 58 minutes,[26] Milwaukee Road class F7. Historical
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.[85] Historical

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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[edit]
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