Land speed record for rail vehicles

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 conventional wheeled passenger trains is held by France's specially tuned TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). Reduced to three cars, it broke the world record in April 2007, reaching 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) on a 140 km section of track.[1]

The maximum speed attained by a passenger train is held by Japan's experimental maglev train L0 Series, having achieved 603 km/h (375 mph) on a 42.8 km magnetic-levitation track in April 2015.[2]

The fastest manned rail vehicle was a manned rocket sled, which carried USAF flight surgeon 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.[3]

World speed records

Legend :

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

All passenger trains

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

Speed Date Line Country Train Arr Power State Comments
603 km/h (375 mph) 2015-04-21 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[2]
590 km/h (367 mph) 2015-04-16 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[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 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[6] Current world record on steel rails.
552 km/h (343 mph) 1999-04-14 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.
550 km/h (342 mph) 1997-12-24 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto. Three-car train set.
517 km/h (321 mph) 1979-12-21 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC (Maglev) Proto.
515.3 km/h (320 mph) 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
504 km/h (313 mph) 1979-12-12 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC (Maglev) Proto.
501 km/h (311 mph) 2003-11-12 Shanghai Maglev Train China Transrapid SMT Multi AC (Maglev) Unmod. Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004[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) 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
421.4 km/h (262 mph) 2013-03-28 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HEMU-430X Multi AC Proto six-car train set. maximum speed test.
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center US LIMRV [10] Loc Gas turbine Proto
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) 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) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi AC Tuned
362 km/h (225 mph) 2009-02-04 Monte Bibele tunnel (Bologna-Firenze HSL) Italy ETR 500-Y Multi AC Tuned World record in tunnel.[11]
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.[12][13]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alsthom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned
275 km/h (171 mph) 1967-12-20 Northeast Corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick, New Jersey 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 (Maglev) Proto.
250 km/h (155 mph) 1973 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC (Maglev) Proto.
245 km/h (152 mph) 1980 Rosslyn to De Wildt South Africa South Africa South African Class 6E Loc DC Proto. High speed pantographs was tested for British rail on locomotive number E1525. The idea was abandoned thereafter.
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alsthom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod.
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.
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)[14][15] }
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 unknown Authenticated speed. International Steam Record Holder to this day.
177 km/h (110 mph) 1945-3-30 Fort Wayne Line US Pennsylvania Railroad Class S2 #6200 Loc Steam Turbine Unmod. During a test run officially arranged by PRR on 30 March 1945, S2 #6200 with a dynamometer car towed, was able to pull a 17-car train over a distance of 48 kilometers at a speed of 110 mph (180 km/h) between Fort Wayne and Chicago. Ernest F G Cox, a British locomotive engineer, once travelled on the footplate and reported that "100mph was maintained and exceeded for 12 consecutive minutes".
168.5 km/h (105 mph) 1934-30-11 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.
166.6 km/h (104 mph) 1934-07-20 US Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[16]
164 km/h (102 mph) 1971-10 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 02 Single AC (Maglev) Proto. 930 m test track which included one curve.
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-11-30 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[17]
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed
96.6 km/h (60 mph) 1848 US Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.
90 km/h (56 mph) 1971-05-06 MBB's Ottobrunn factory West Germany MBB Prinzipfahrzeug Single AC Proto. 660 m test track. Near Munich. MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle.
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod.
46 km/h (29 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [18]
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod.
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 UK Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod.

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 Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[19]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu [20]
482.4 km/h (300 mph) 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi AC Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi AC Proto
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi AC Proto.
380 km/h (236 mph) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi AC Tuned
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.[12][13]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alsthom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alsthom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod.
202.6 km/h (126 mph) 1938-07-03 UK LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam unknown [21][22] Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed 202.6 km/h (126 mph), mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h (125 mph). Mallard suffered an overheated crankpin during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[23]
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.
213 km/h (132 mph) 2018-09-08 Greece FS ETR 485 (Pendolino) Multi Electric Unknown
205 km/h (127 mph) 1936-02-17 Germany DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" Multi Diesel-elec Unmod. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)
180.3 km/h (112 mph) 1935-09-29 East Coast Main Line between Biggleswade and Sandy UK LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link Loc Steam unknown Authenticated speed. Some sources say 112.5 mph.
168.5 km/h (105 mph) 1935-03-05 East Coast Main Line near Essendine UK LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated run at over 100 mph with complete, surviving documentation.
166.6 km/h (104 mph) 1934-07-20 US Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[16]
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-11-30 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[17]
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed
96.6 km/h (60 mph) 1848 US Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod.
46 km/h (29 mph) 1829 Rainhill Trials UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod. [18]
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod.
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 UK Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod.

Electric

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

Speed records of electric locomotive and electric multiple unit trains
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
574.8 km/h (357 mph) 2007-04-03 LGV Est France SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 Multi Single phase Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[6] Current world record.
515.3 km/h (320 mph) 1990-05-18 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 Multi Single phase Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
487.3 km/h (303 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380BL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset[24]
486.1 km/h (302 mph) 2010-12-03 Beijing–Shanghai HSR China CRH380AL Multi Single phase Unmod. 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu [25]
482.4 km/h (300 mph) 1989-12-05 LGV Atlantique France SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325|- Multi Single phase Tuned Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
443.0 km/h (275 mph) 1996-07-26 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Japan Class 955 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto
425.0 km/h (264 mph) 1993-12-21 Jōetsu Shinkansen Japan Class 952/953 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto
421.4 km/h (262 mph) 2013-03-28 Gyeongbu high-speed railway South Korea Hyundai Rotem HEMU-430X Multi Single phase Proto six-car train set. maximum speed test.
416.6 km/h (259 mph) 2010-09-28 Shanghai–Hangzhou HSR China CRH380A Multi Single phase Unmod. [26]
408.4 km/h (254 mph) 1988-12-12 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 Multi Single phase Tuned
406.9 km/h (253 mph) 1988-05-01 Hanover-Würzburg HSR West Germany InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) Multi Single phase Proto.
403.7 km/h (251 mph) 2006-07-15 Guadalajara-Calatayud, Spain Siemens Velaro E (AVE S-103) Multi Single phase Unmod. 15–16 July [27][28]
380 km/h (236 mph) 1981-02-26 LGV Sud-Est France SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 Multi Single phase Tuned
362 km/h (225 mph) 2009-02-03 Between Florence and Bologna 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.[29][30]
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.[12][31]
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.[12][13]
320.6 km/h (199 mph) 1955-03-28 "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax France Alstom CC 7107 Loc DC Tuned
319 km/h (198 mph) 1979-12-07 Oyama test track Japan Class 961 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto. test track, now part of Tōhoku Shinkansen[32]
286 km/h (178 mph) 1972-02-24 Sanyō Shinkansen Japan Class 951 Shinkansen Multi Single phase Proto. [32]
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[32]
243 km/h (151 mph) 1954-02-21 Between Dijon and Beaune France Alstom CC 7121 Loc DC Unmod.
210.2 km/h (131 mph) 1903-10-28 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany AEG Experimental three-phase railcar Multi Triphase Proto. Many sources say 27 October.[33][34][35]
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[36]
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).[33][37][38]
174 km/h (108 mph) 1988-04-11 South Western Main Line UK Class 442 (Wessex Electric) unit 2401 Multi DC 3rd rail Unmod.
162.5 km/h (101 mph) 1901 Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen Germany Siemens & Halske Experimental three-phase railcar Multi Triphase Proto. Some sources say 160 km/h (99 mph) or 162 km/h (101 mph).[39]

Fuel-electric

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

Speed record of fuel-electric rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
318 km/h (198 mph) 1972-12-08 France TGV 001 prototype Multi Gas Proto.
271 km/h (168 mph) 1993-10-05 Saint Petersburg — Moscow Russia TEP80 Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed,[40] but no verification from an independent witness[41]
256.38 km/h (159 mph) 2002-06-12 Spain Talgo XXI Multi Diesel-elec Proto. Claimed by Spanish manufacturer
238 km/h (148 mph) 1987-11-01 East Coast Main Line UK Class 43 (HST) Multi Diesel-elec Modified Current official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records
230.4 km/h (143 mph) 1973-06-12 East Coast Main Line UK Class 252 (HST prototype) Multi Diesel-elec Proto.
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)[14][15]
181 km/h (112 mph) 1934-05-26 US Pioneer Zephyr Loc Diesel-elec Unmod.

Fuel-mechanic

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

Speed record of fuel-mechanic rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
275 km/h (171 mph) 1967-12-20 US UAC TurboTrain Multi Gas unknown [42]
230 km/h (143 mph) 1978-05-04 Alcázar de San Juan - Rio Záncara Spain RENFE Class 353 Single Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.
215 km/h (134 mph) 1939-06-23 Germany DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) Multi Diesel-hydraulic Unmod.

Steam

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

Speed record of steam rail vehicles
Speed Date Line Country Train Arr. Power State Comments
251 km/h (156 mph) 1945 Fort Wayne Line US Pennsylvania Railroad Class S1 #6100 Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed. The locomotive was claimed to have exceeded 156 mph (251 km/h) on the Fort Wayne-Chicago run, as it was reported that the PRR received a fine for the feat. An article "Riding the Gargantua of the Rails" in the Dec 1941 Popular Mechanics Magazine cites a speed of 133.4 miles per hour (214.7 km/h).[43] In the German trade press and literature from 1945 there was a report of a record run of the S1, citing railroad officials that a speed of 141 mph (227 km/h) had been reached.
225 km/h (140 mph) 1948 US Pennsylvania Railroad Class T1 Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed. A technician charged with determining the cause of frequent poppet valve failures on the T1s claimed to have observed them being operated at speeds of up to 140 mph (225 km/h) to make up time.
202.6 km/h (126 mph) 1938-07-03 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard Loc Steam Unmod. [44][22] Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed 202.6 km/h (126 mph), mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h (125 mph). Mallard suffered an overheated crankpin during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[23]
200.4 km/h (125 mph) 1936-05-11 Germany Borsig DRG series 05 002 Loc Steam unknown Level grade.[45]
185.07 km/h (115 mph) 1905-06-11 US Pennsylvania Railroad E2 #7002 Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed. Clocked at Crestline, Ohio at 127.1 mph (205 km/h) in 1905. However PRR Steam Locomotives did not carry speedometers at that time, speed was calculated by measuring time between mile markers, so this is not recognized as a speed record.
182.4 km/h (113 mph) 1972-10-11 Germany BR 18 201 Loc Steam unknown The fastest operational steam locomotive as of 2011.
181.1 km/h (113 mph) 1935-04-05 US Milwaukee Road class A #2 Loc Steam unknown Claimed to have sustained 112.5 mph (181 km/h) for 14 miles (23 km). Average speed for 136 miles (219 km) between Milwaukee and New Lisbon, Wisconsin was 74.9 mph (121 km/h).[16]
180.3 km/h (112 mph) 1935-09-29 East Coast Main Line UK LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link Loc Steam unknown Authenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph.
177 km/h (110 mph) 1945-3-30 Fort Wayne Line US Pennsylvania Railroad Class S2 #6200 Loc Steam Turbine Unmod. During a test run officially arranged by PRR on 30 March 1945, S2 #6200 with a dynamometer car towed, was able to pull a 17-car train over a distance of 48 kilometers at a speed of 110 mph (180 km/h) between Fort Wayne and Chicago. Ernest F G Cox, a British locomotive engineer, once travelled on the footplate and reported that "100mph was maintained and exceeded for 12 consecutive minutes".
168.5 km/h (105 mph) 1935-03-05 UK LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus Loc Steam Unmod. First run at 100+ mph with complete, surviving documentation.
166.6 km/h (104 mph) 1934-07-20 US Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 Loc Steam Unmod. A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[16]
164 km/h (102 mph) 1904-05-09 UK GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro Loc Steam Unmod. Claimed to be the first steam locomotive to reach 100 mph (161 km/h).
161 km/h (100 mph) 1934-11-30 UK LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman Loc Steam Unmod. In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[17]
145 km/h (90 mph) 1895-08-22 UK LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke Loc Steam Unmod. Maximum speed claimed, although average speed record was authenticated.
131.6 km/h (82 mph) 1854-06 UK Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 Loc Steam Unmod. Broad gauge
131 km/h (81 mph) 1893-05-10 US Empire State Express No. 999 Loc Steam Unmod. 112 mph (180 km/h) claimed, which would make it the first wheeled vehicle to exceed 100 mph (161 km/h).[46][47]
125.6 km/h (78 mph) 1850 UK Great Britain Loc Steam Unmod. 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed
96.6 km/h (60 mph) 1848 US Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope Loc Steam Unmod. First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.
48 km/h (30 mph) 1830 UK Stephenson's Rocket Loc Steam Unmod.
24 km/h (15 mph) 1825 UK Locomotion No. 1 Loc Steam Unmod.
8 km/h (5 mph) 1804-02-21 UK Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive Loc Steam Unmod.

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 [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:, .[48][49][50][51][52]
230.2 km/h (143 mph) 1931-06-21 Berlin - Hamburg Germany Schienenzeppelin Single Propeller Proto. Propeller-pushed railcar with a gasoline (petrol) aero engine. Engine by BMW.
140 km/h (87 mph) >add Aerowagon 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 [53][54][55] 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) [56]
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) [56]
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) [57]
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.[57]
129 km/h (80 mph) 1954-12-15 JNR Tokaido Main Line Japan JNR C62 steam locomotive No. C62 17 Loc Steam unknown 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [58]
110 km/h (68 mph) 1920 Dutch East Indies SS Loc Steam unknown 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

Maglev trains

Speed Date Line Country Train Arr Power State Comments
603 km/h (375 mph) 2015-04-21 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[2]
590 km/h (367 mph) 2015-04-16 Yamanashi Test Track Japan L0 Series Multi AC Proto. Seven-car train set, manned[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.
550 km/h (342 mph) 1997-12-24 Yamanashi Test Track Japan MLX01 Multi AC Proto. Three-car train set.
517 km/h (321 mph) 1979-12-21 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto.
504 km/h (313 mph) 1979-12-12 Miyazaki Test Track Japan ML-500R Multi AC Proto.
501 km/h (311 mph) 2003-11-12 Shanghai Maglev Train China Transrapid SMT Multi AC Unmod. Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004[7]
411.5 km/h (256 mph) 1974-08-14 High Speed Ground Test Center US LIMRV [10] single Cable Proto
253.2 km/h (157 mph) 1977-11-21 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC Proto.
250 km/h (155 mph) 1973 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 04 Multi AC Proto.
164 km/h (102 mph) 1971-10 Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach West Germany Transrapid 02 Single AC Proto. 930 m test track which included one curve.
90 km/h (56 mph) 1971-05-06 MBB's Ottobrunn factory West Germany MBB Prinzipfahrzeug Single AC Proto. 660 m test track. Near Munich. MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle.

Rocket sleds

Speed Date Line Country Train Arrangmt Power State Comments
10,326 km/h (6,416 mph) 2003-04-29 Holloman Air Force Base US Rocket sled Single Rocket Proto. Unmanned. 6,416 mph (10,326 km/h) = Mach 8.4. Final stage of a four-stage sled train. Super Roadrunner rocket motor. 192 lb (87 kg) payload. For more than 2 miles (3 km) the sled was in a helium tube to reduce air friction.[3]
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).[59]
4,972 km/h (3,089 mph) 1959 China Lake, California US Rocket sled Single Rocket Proto. Unmanned. On SNORT (Supersonic Naval Ordnance Track).
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.[60] Zero to 1,017 km/h (632 mph) and back to zero in 1,100 metres (3,500 ft) total.[61]

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

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

Styles : [Currently active] - [Old service]

All Trains Commercially Operated

World record average operating speeds of trains in commercial traffic
Average speed Top speed Train Type Location From To Distance 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) 2018 On Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway[62]
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.
283.7 km/h (176 mph) 310 km/h (193 mph) CRH380A Single phase China Shijiazhuang Zhengzhou 383.0 km (238 mi) 2010 On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway[63]
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 2010 On the LGV Est[64]
263.4 km/h (164 mph) 320 km/h (199 mph) E5 series shinkansen Single phase Japan Ōmiya Sendai 294.1 km (183 mi) 2011 With the Hayabusa service on the Tohoku Shinkansen line[65]
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) 2005 2007 On the LGV Méditerranée[66]
261.8 km/h (163 mph) 300 km/h (186 mph) Nozomi Shinkansen Single phase Japan Hiroshima Kokura 192.0 km (119 mi) 1997 2005 Operated by 500 Series Shinkansen[66]
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) 1995 1997 On LGV Interconnexion Est and LGV Nord[67]
163.0 km/h (101 mph) 200 km/h (124 mph) Etendard Single phase France Saint-Pierre-des-Corps Poitiers 100.0 km (62 mi) 1973 ? Class CC6500 locomotive, now by TGV
162.8 km/h (101 mph) 210 km/h (130 mph) Hikari Shinkansen Single phase Japan Tokyo Shin-Ōsaka Station 515.0 km (320 mi) 1965 ? Stopped at Nagoya and Kyoto
132.1 km/h (82 mph) 160 km/h (99 mph) Mistral Single phase France Paris Dijon 315.0 km (196 mi) 1964 ?
130.4 km/h (81 mph) 161 km/h (100 mph) Morning Hiawatha Steam United States Sparta, Wisconsin Portage, Wisconsin 126.0 km (78 mi) 1939 ? 78.3 miles (126.0 km) in 58 minutes,[16] Milwaukee Road class F7.
124.3 km/h (77 mph) 160 km/h (99 mph) Fliegender Hamburger Diesel-elec. Germany Berlin Hamburg 286.0 km (178 mi) 1933 1939 DMU, 98 passengers
114.8 km/h (71 mph) 148.7 km/h (92 mph) Cheltenham Spa Express Steam United Kingdom Swindon London 124.3 km (77 mi) 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 First Great Western in 57 minutes with Class 43 HST.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "French train breaks speed record". CBC News. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Japan's maglev train breaks world speed record with 600km/h test run". The Guardian. United Kingdom: Guardian News and Media Limited. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 U.S. AIR FORCE
  4. 1 2 リニア「Ｌ０系」、世界最高の５９０キロ記録 [L0 series maglev sets world speed record of 590 km/h]. Yomiuri Online (in Japanese). Japan: The Yomiuri Shimbunl. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 リニアが世界最速５９０キロ　長距離走行記録も更新 [Maglev sets new world record of 590 km/h - Also sets new distance record]. Sankei News (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "BBC NEWS - Europe - French set new rail speed record". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Transrapid stellt neuen Weltrekord auf". Handelsblatt. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  8. ↑ 柴永強 (2011-01-13). ""唐山造"動車最高速487.3公里 刷新世界紀錄_中國網". Big5.china.com.cn. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  9. ↑ "和谐号CRH380A打破此前的世界铁路最高运营速度纪录_财经频道_新华网". News.xinhuanet.com. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  10. 1 2 3 Johnson, R. D. (1988). "Thoughts at 160 mph". Proceedings of the American Railway Engineering Association. 89: 330–331. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  11. ↑ "Due record in prova per il Frecciarossa" (in Italian). Repubblica. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Taurus puts 1955 French speed record holders in the shade". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 .
  14. 1 2 Der SVT „Leipzig“ 137 234 / 183 251-8" abgerufen am 21. August 2017]
  15. 1 2 Ralf Roman Rossberg: Deutsche Eisenbahnfahrzeuge von 1838 bis Heute, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1988, ISBN 978-3-642-95771-0 Seite 128
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Scribbins, Jim (2007) [1970]. The Hiawatha Story. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0-8166-5003-9. OCLC 191732983.
  17. 1 2 3 "Flying Scotsman". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  18. 1 2 "Stephenson's 'Rocket' locomotive, 1829". The Science Museum. Archived from the original on 2007-09-18.
  19. ↑ 柴永強 (2011-01-13). ""唐山造"動車最高速487.3公里 刷新世界紀錄_中國網". Big5.china.com.cn. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  20. ↑ "和谐号CRH380A打破此前的世界铁路最高运营速度纪录_财经频道_新华网". News.xinhuanet.com. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  21. ↑ "Mallard". Archived from the original on 9 February 1999. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. 1 2 "World Rail Speed Records". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  23. 1 2 "The Gresley A4 Pacifics". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  24. ↑ 柴永強 (2011-01-13). ""唐山造"動車最高速487.3公里 刷新世界紀錄_中國網". Big5.china.com.cn. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  25. ↑ "和谐号CRH380A打破此前的世界铁路最高运营速度纪录_财经频道_新华网". News.xinhuanet.com. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  26. ↑ "沪杭高铁最高时速再次刷新纪录达416.6公里_新闻中心_新浪网". News.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  27. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-07-13. Retrieved 2007-07-02. ,
  28. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2007-04-17. .
  29. ↑ "Raggiunto in galleria il record mondiale di velocità di 362 km/h - Notizie - FSNews". Fsnews.it. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  30. ↑ "362km/h Nuovo Record di Velocità Italiano ETR Y1 500 di RFI Alta Velocità FI-BO 3/2/09 (HD)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  31. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-15. .
  32. 1 2 3 プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. OCLC 170056962.
  33. 1 2 de:Studiengesellschaft für Elektrische Schnellbahnen
  34. ↑ Archived July 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  35. ↑ "Transporte Brasileiro - Mobility". Siemens. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  36. ↑ "Gli ETR 200 FS". Interrail.publinet.it. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  37. ↑ "Kein Folientitel" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  38. ↑ Hans Dόcker. "Die Geschichte der Elektrolokomotive". E94114.de. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  39. ↑ "Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education - University of Birmingham" (PDF). Railway.bham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  40. ↑ Берзин, Артур (2013-11-13). "Обогнавшие судьбу". Гудок. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  41. ↑ Рекордные испытания ТЭП80-0002 05.10.1993.TEP80 world speed record 271 km/h. YouTube. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  42. ↑ Barry, Keith. "From Simple Steam to Burly Turbines: 150 Years of Great American Trains". WIRED. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  43. ↑ Popular Mechanics | Million-Pound Iron Horse is 140 Fleet Long { https://archive.org/stream/PopularMechanics1939/Popular_Mechanics_06_1939#page/n109
  44. ↑ "Mallard". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "05 002 v Mallard. Notes on the data of the record runs: (1) 05 002". Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  46. ↑ Speed
  47. ↑ "GREAT SPEED Off THE CENTRAL.; Empire State Express Engine Travels at the Rate of 112 1-2 Miles an Hour" (PDF). New York Times. 1893-05-12. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  48. ↑ "Lux's type collection - High Speed Trains - record runs". Boris-lux.de. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  49. ↑ Archived August 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  50. ↑ Archived January 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  51. ↑ "Opel". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  52. ↑ "Opel-RAK". Daviddarling.info. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  53. ↑ "Speed Record Club". Speed Record Club. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  54. ↑ Archived June 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  55. ↑ "Pantograph testing in South Africa". Traintesting.com. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  56. 1 2 YouTube. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  57. 1 2 Shaw 1958 p.47
  58. ↑ Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō magazine, November 2008 issue, p.61
  59. ↑ Impact LAB
  60. ↑ "International Space Hall of Fame :: New Mexico Museum of Space History  :: Inductee Profile". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  61. ↑ Aviation Week 3 January 1954 p15
  62. ↑ "g17 train schedule | Train times, fares & tickets | Ctrip". english.ctrip.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  63. ↑ DVV Media Group GmbH. "World Speed Survey 2013: China sprints out in front". rwg. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  64. ↑ Railway Gazette International World Speed Survey 2007
  65. ↑ "Timetable for Tohoku Shinkansen". www.eki-net.com. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  66. 1 2 "World Speed Survey 2005: France regains rail's blue riband". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 2018-02-15. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  67. ↑ UK, DVV Media. "World Speed Survey 1997". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
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