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 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 that has a top speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) and CR400 Fuxing Hao with 350 km/h (217 mph), which also hails from China. They are followed by France's TGV Duplex and Japan's E5 series shinkansen which both have maximum operating speeds of 320 km/h (199 mph) for commercial services.[3]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
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 | UK | 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 | UK | 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 | UK | 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 | 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[26] | |
| 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.[27] |
| 48 km/h (30 mph) | 1829 | Rainhill Trials | UK | Stephenson's Rocket | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [28] |
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 | 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 | USA | 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 | USA | 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 | USA | 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 | USA | 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
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 | 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 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 | UK | 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 | UK | 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 | USA | 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 | USA | 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
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 | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 km/h (171 mph) | 1967-12-20 | Northeast Corridor | US | UAC TurboTrain | Multi | Gas | unknown | [54] |
| 129 km/h (80 mph) | 1905 | Union Pacific and Southern Pacific | US | 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
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 | 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 | 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, Boston and Albany Railroad, Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway, Michigan Central Railroad, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway | USA | 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 | US | 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 | 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.[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 | 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.[27][note 1] |
| 165 km/h (102.3 mph) | 1904-05-4 | Exeter to Bristol Line | UK | 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 | 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.[58] |
| 160.9 km/h (100 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).[59][60] Unauthenticated and dubious. | |
| 48 km/h (30 mph) | 1829 | Rainhill Trials | UK | Stephenson's Rocket | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [28] |
| 8 km/h (5 mph) [citation needed] | 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).[61][62] |
Note:
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 | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 411.5 km/h (256 mph) | 1974-08-14 | High Speed Ground Test Center | US | LIMRV[10] | 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:, .[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
| 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
| 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 | US | LIMRV[10] | Single | Cable | Proto |
Rocket sleds
| Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr | 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 8.6. 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.[76] |
| 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).[77] |
| 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.[78] Zero to 1,017 km/h (632 mph) and back to zero in 1,100 metres (3,500 ft) total.[79] |
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.
All commercially operated trains
| 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[80] | |
| 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[81] | |
| 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[82] |
| 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[83] |
| 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[84] |
| 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[84] |
| 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[85] | |
| 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[86] | |
| 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).[87] | |
| 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.[88] 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.[89] Historical |
See also
- Land speed record
- List of vehicle speed records
- List of high-speed trains
- High-speed rail
- Schienenzeppelin, experimental car, driven by propeller, speed record for rail vehicles on 21 June 1931, 230.2 km/h (143.0 mph) on the Berlin–Hamburg Railway
- An unknown R44 set, which reached 141.22km/h (87.75mph) while testing on Long Island Railroad trackage
References
External links
- TGV 2007 record
- TGV 2007 record - SNCF Press release Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, SNCF Press release 2 Archived 2007-05-08 at the Wayback Machine
- Alstom V 150, Alstom Press release
- Reuters TGV record, Reuters TGV record video
- Fastest steam locomotive
- RDECOM magazine 'Super Roadrunner' breaks land speed record
- 846 TS HYPERSONIC UPGRADE PROGRAM (contains World Speed Record video)
- World Speed Survey 1997
- (in French) Retrouvez sur cette page les chiffres clés des records sur rail dans le monde
- Railway developments worldwide
- World Speed Survey 2007 Archived 2009-07-31 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International September 2007
- Photos of the fastest trains
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