Top 10 Fastest High-Speed Trains in the World: Asia Dominates with Five Entries

10 Fastest High-Speed Trains in the World: Blending Innovation, Speed, and Efficiency, These Trains Have Become the Backbone of Urban Mobility.

10 Fastest High-Speed Trains in the World:

In today's world, the rapid growth of the population and the shift towards urbanization have driven cities to develop at an unprecedented pace. Efficient transportation systems are more than just important; they are vital for developing urban areas, and making cities more accessible, livable, and interconnected. The rise of high-speed rail has revolutionized global transportation by providing a viable alternative to air travel, fostering economic growth, reducing travel times, and offering a sustainable option. These high-speed railways have become the cornerstone of urban mobility by blending innovation, speed, and efficiency.

India has no high-speed trains that exceed 200 km/h (125 mph). However, the country is making significant strides in developing high-speed rail infrastructure to improve connectivity and reduce travel times between major urban centers. As of 2024, the Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, holds the title of the fastest train in India. It can reach a maximum speed of 180 km/h, but typically operates at a reduced speed of 160 km/h for safety and operational reasons.

The top 10 fastest high-speed trains in the world:

Reflecting the remarkable progress and advancements over the past decade, Railway Network has released an index of the ten fastest high-speed trains currently in service worldwide, ranked by their operating speeds. Notably, Asian countries such as China and Japan are making substantial investments in high-speed rail infrastructure. China, in particular, is home to three of the world’s fastest trains: the Shanghai Maglev, the China Railway Harmony (CRH380A), and the China Railway Fuxing.

Rank	Name of the train	Country	Top operational speed (kmph)	Speed record (kmph)
1	Shanghai Maglev	China	460	501
2	CR Harmony	China	350	486
3	CR Fuxing	China	350	420
4	DB Intercity-Express 3	Germany	350	368
5	SNCF TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse)	France	320	575
6	JR Shinkansen	Japan	320	443
7	ONCF Al Boraq	Morocco	320	357
8	Renfe AVE 103	Spain	310	404
9	Korail KTX-Sancheon	South Korea	305	421
10	Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000	Italy	300	389