Surveying the World's Fastest Trains, and a Possible New Entry to the List

The Telegraph compiles a list of the fastest train trips in the world, from the 90 minute journey from Brussels to Paris at 186 miles per hour to Shanghai's 268 mile per hour maglev train. A new service is poised to join them.

1 minute read

June 16, 2013, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Shanghai Maglev

Lars Plougmann / flickr

If you're looking for the fastest train ride in the world, just book at trip from Shanghai's airport to the city's metro system. Aboard the world's first commercially used maglev (magnetic levitation) train you can reach top speeds of 269 miles per hour during the 20-mile trip. The fastest high-speed rail ride appears to be on China's CRH3C trains, which run from Beijing to Tianjin at a top speed of 205 miles per hour.

Poised to join them is Japan's "super-fast" maglev train that will travel at more than 300 miles per hour. "The public got a glimpse of the new L0 series magnetic levitation train, called 'Linear motor car' in Japan, on June 3 when JR Tokai displayed for the first time a linked-up prototype of five cars," reports Yu Okuma. "Passengers can expect to readily take a train like the one displayed at the test center in 2027, allowing them to travel between Tokyo and Nagoya in about 40 minutes instead of the current 100 minutes."

  

Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in The Telegraph

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Glass building with green tree behind it.

EPA Terminates $116 Million in Grants for Reducing Emissions from Construction Materials

C-MORE grants were earmarked for industry trade groups and universities.

5 hours ago - Inside Climate News

White BART trains passing each other on elevated track in Fruitvale, California.

BART Closes $35 Million Deficit

Cost control and revenue generation measures prevented service cuts.

6 hours ago - Mass Transit

Black hearse seen from behind driving on multilane road.

The New Parisian Hearse is a Bicycle

Sleek, silent, and sustainable, a green trip to the graveyard has hit the streets of the French capital.

7 hours ago - Momentum Magazine