Railway speed record


The world record for a conventional wheeled passenger train is held by France's TGV, set in 2007 when it reached on a 140 km section of track.
Japan's experimental maglev train L0 Series achieved on a 42.8 km magnetic levitation track in 2015.

World speed records

Legend :
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,
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArrPowerStateComments
2015-04-21Yamanashi Test TrackJapanL0 SeriesMultiAC Proto.Seven-car train set, manned
2015-04-16Yamanashi Test TrackJapanL0 SeriesMultiAC Proto.Seven-car train set, manned
2003-12-02Yamanashi Test TrackJapanMLX01MultiAC Proto.Three-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.
2007-04-03LGV EstFranceSNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402MultiACTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Current world record on steel rails.
1999-04-14Yamanashi Test TrackJapanMLX01MultiAC Proto.Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.
1997-12-24Yamanashi Test TrackJapanMLX01MultiAC Proto.Three-car train set.
1979-12-21Miyazaki Test TrackJapanML-500RMultiAC Proto.
1990-05-18LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325MultiACTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
1979-12-12Miyazaki Test TrackJapanML-500RMultiAC Proto.
2003-11-12Shanghai Maglev TrainChinaTransrapid SMTMultiAC Unmod.Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380BLMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380ALMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu
1989-12-05LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325MultiACTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
1996-07-26Tōkaidō ShinkansenJapanClass 955 ShinkansenMultiACProto
1993-12-21Jōetsu ShinkansenJapanClass 952/953 ShinkansenMultiACProto
2013-03-28Gyeongbu high-speed railwaySouth KoreaHyundai Rotem HEMU-430XMultiACProto
1974-08-14High Speed Ground Test CenterUSLIMRVLocGas turbineProto
1988-05-01Hanover-Würzburg HSRWest GermanyInterCityExperimental MultiACProto.
2016-02-26AV Milano-TorinoItalyETR 1000MultiACUnmod.
1981-02-26LGV Sud-EstFranceSNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16MultiACTuned
2009-02-04Monte Bibele tunnel ItalyETR 500-YMultiACTunedWorld record in tunnel.
1955-03-29"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceJeumont-Schneider BB 9004LocDCTunedPulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.
1955-03-28"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceAlsthom CC 7107LocDCTuned
1967-12-20Northeast Corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick, New JerseyUSUAC TurboTrainGTEL--Unmod.--
1977-11-21Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - AllachWest GermanyTransrapid 04MultiAC Proto.
1973Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - AllachWest GermanyTransrapid 04MultiAC Proto.
1980Rosslyn to De Wildt South AfricaSouth AfricaSouth African Class 6ELocDCProto.High speed pantographs was tested for British rail on locomotive number E1525. The idea was abandoned thereafter.
1954-02-21Between Dijon and BeauneFranceAlsthom CC 7121LocDCUnmod.
1939-06-23GermanyDRG SVT 137 155 MultiDiesel-hydraulicUnmod.
1936-02-17GermanyDRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig"MultiDiesel-elecUnmod.First diesel train faster than

Conventional wheeled

The following is a list of verified absolute world speed records for conventional wheeled rail vehicles.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArr.PowerStateComments
2007-04-03LGV EstFranceSNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402MultiACTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Current world record on steel rails.
1990-05-18LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325MultiACTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380BLMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380ALMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu
1989-12-05LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325MultiACTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
1996-07-26Tōkaidō ShinkansenJapanClass 955 ShinkansenMultiACProto
1993-12-21Jōetsu ShinkansenJapanClass 952/953 ShinkansenMultiACProto
1988-05-01Hanover-Würzburg HSRWest GermanyInterCityExperimental MultiACProto.
1981-02-26LGV Sud-EstFranceSNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16MultiACTuned
1955-03-29"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceJeumont-Schneider BB 9004LocDCTunedPulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.
1955-03-28"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceAlsthom CC 7107LocDCTuned
1954-02-21Between Dijon and BeauneFranceAlsthom CC 7121LocDCUnmod.
1938-07-03UKLNER Class A4 No. 4468 MallardLocSteamunknownDownhill grade. Data indicates peak speed, mean speed . Mallard suffered an overheated crankpin during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days. This is the standing record for a steam locomotoive.
1939-06-23GermanyDRG SVT 137 155 MultiDiesel-hydraulicUnmod.
2018-09-08GreeceFS ETR 485 MultiElectricUnknown
1936-02-17GermanyDRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig"MultiDiesel-elecUnmod.First diesel train faster than
1935-09-29East Coast Main Line between Biggleswade and SandyUKLNER Class A4 2509 Silver LinkLocSteamunknownAuthenticated speed. Some sources say 112.5 mph.
1935-03-05East Coast Main Line near EssendineUKLNER Class A3 No. 2750 PapyrusLocSteamUnmod.First authenticated run at over 100 mph with complete, surviving documentation.
1934-07-20USMilwaukee Road class F6 #6402LocSteamUnmodA point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged on from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and for a stretch
1934-11-30East Coast Main LineUKLNER Class A3 4472 Flying ScotsmanLocSteamUnmod.In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated by a steam locomotive.
1854-06UKBristol & Exeter Railway #41LocSteamUnmod.Broad gauge
1850UKGreat BritainLocSteamUnmod. claimed
1848USBoston and Maine Railroad AntelopeLocSteamUnmod.First authenticated, in 26 minutes.
1830Liverpool and Manchester RailwayUKStephenson's RocketLocSteamUnmod.
1829Rainhill TrialsUKStephenson's RocketLocSteamUnmod.
1825UKLocomotion No. 1LocSteamUnmod.
1804-02-21UKRichard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotiveLocSteamUnmod.

Electric

The following is a list of speed records for rail vehicles with electric traction motors and powered by electricity transferred to the train.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArr.PowerStateComments
2007-04-03LGV EstFranceSNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402MultiSingle phaseTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Current world record.
1990-05-18LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325MultiSingle phaseTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380BLMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset
2010-12-03Beijing–Shanghai HSRChinaCRH380ALMultiSingle phaseUnmod.16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu
1989-12-05LGV AtlantiqueFranceSNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325|-MultiSingle phaseTunedSet formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.
1996-07-26Tōkaidō ShinkansenJapanClass 955 ShinkansenMultiSingle phaseProto
1993-12-21Jōetsu ShinkansenJapanClass 952/953 ShinkansenMultiSingle phaseProto
2013-03-28Gyeongbu high-speed railwaySouth KoreaHyundai Rotem HEMU-430XMultiSingle phaseProto
2010-09-28Shanghai–Hangzhou HSRChinaCRH380AMultiSingle phaseUnmod.
1988-12-12LGV Sud-EstFranceSNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88MultiSingle phaseTuned
1988-05-01Hanover-Würzburg HSRWest GermanyInterCityExperimental MultiSingle phaseProto.
2006-07-15Guadalajara-Calatayud,SpainSiemens Velaro E MultiSingle phaseUnmod.15–16 July
1981-02-26LGV Sud-EstFranceSNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16MultiSingle phaseTuned
2009-02-03Bologna–Florence high-speed railwayItalyETR 500 Y1MultiSingle phaseTunedIndoor Italian speed record, in the Monte Bibele tunnel on the high speed line between Florence and Bologna.
2006-09-02Nuremberg-Munich high-speed rail lineGermanySiemens EuroSprinter ES64U4 No. 1216 050-5LocSingle phaseUnmod.On Nuremberg-Munich high-speed rail line, locomotive owned by ÖBB, pulling one car.
1955-03-29"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceJeumont-Schneider BB 9004LocDCTunedPulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.
1955-03-28"Les Landes", between Bordeaux and DaxFranceAlstom CC 7107LocDCTuned
1979-12-07Oyama test trackJapanClass 961 ShinkansenMultiSingle phaseProto.test track, now part of Tōhoku Shinkansen
1972-02-24Sanyō ShinkansenJapanClass 951 ShinkansenMultiSingle phaseProto.
1963-03-30Odawara test trackJapanClass 1000 ShinkansenMultiSingle phaseProto.Test track now part of Tōkaidō Shinkansen
1954-02-21Between Dijon and BeauneFranceAlstom CC 7121LocDCUnmod.
1903-10-28Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and ZossenGermanyAEG Experimental three-phase railcarMultiTriphaseProto.Many sources say 27 October.
1939-20-07Florence–Bologna "direttissima" and Bologna-Milan linesItalyETR 200MultiDCUnmod.Record average speed between Bologna and Milan
1903-10-06Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and ZossenGermanySiemens & Halske Experimental three-phase railcarMultiTriphaseProto.Some sources say 7 October, others say or an improbable.
1988-04-11South Western Main LineUKClass 442 unit 2401MultiDC 3rd railUnmod.
1901Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and ZossenGermanySiemens & Halske Experimental three-phase railcarMultiTriphaseProto.Some sources say or.

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.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArr.PowerStateComments
1972-12-08FranceTGV 001 prototypeMultiGasProto.
1993-10-05Saint Petersburg — MoscowRussiaTEP80MultiDiesel-elecProto.Claimed, but no verification from an independent witness
2002-06-12SpainTalgo XXIMultiDiesel-elecProto.Claimed by Spanish manufacturer
1987-11-01East Coast Main LineUKClass 43 MultiDiesel-elecModifiedCurrent official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records
1973-06-12East Coast Main LineUKHST prototypeMultiDiesel-elecProto.
1936-02-17GermanyDRG SVT 137 233-234 "Bauart Leipzig"MultiDiesel-elecUnmod.World speed record. First diesel train faster than
1934-05-26USPioneer ZephyrLocDiesel-elecUnmod.

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.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArr.PowerStateComments
1967-12-20Northeast CorridorUSUAC TurboTrainMultiGasunknown
1978-05-04Alcázar de San Juan - Rio ZáncaraSpainRENFE Class 353SingleDiesel-hydraulicUnmod.
1939-06-23GermanyDRG SVT 137 155 MultiDiesel-hydraulicUnmod.

Steam

The following is a list of speed records for steam locomotives.
Note: All records with a faster speed than are claimed and have not been officially verified.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArr.PowerStateComments-
1945Fort Wayne LineUSPennsylvania Railroad Class S1 #6100LocSteamUnmod.Claimed. The locomotive was claimed to have exceeded 156 mph 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. 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 had been reached. -
1948USPennsylvania Railroad Class T1LocSteamUnmod.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 to make up time. -
1938-07-03East Coast Main LineUKLNER Class A4 No. 4468 MallardLocSteamUnmod.Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed, mean speed . Mallard suffered an overheated center big end bearing during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days. Mallard's record is the standing world speed record for a steam locomotive.-
1936-05-11GermanyBorsig DRG series 05 002LocSteamunknownLevel grade.-
1905-06-11USPennsylvania Railroad E2 #7002LocSteamUnmod.Claimed. Clocked at Crestline, Ohio at 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.-
1972-10-11GermanyBR 18 201LocSteamexpiredThe fastest operational steam locomotive as of 2011.. After expiration of the frame and vessel licences end of 2018 the locomotive now is stored. Title of "fastest steam locomotive ready-to-run" actually is vacant.-
1935-04-05USMilwaukee Road class A #2LocSteamunknownClaimed to have sustained for. Average speed for between Milwaukee and New Lisbon, Wisconsin was.
1935-09-29East Coast Main LineUKLNER Class A4 2509 Silver LinkLocSteamunknownAuthenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph.-
1945-3-30Fort Wayne LineUSPennsylvania Railroad Class S2 #6200LocSteam TurbineUnmod.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 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". -
1935-03-05UKLNER Class A3 No. 2750 PapyrusLocSteamUnmod.First run at 100+ mph with complete, surviving documentation.-
1934-07-20USMilwaukee Road class F6 #6402LocSteamUnmod.A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged on from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and for a stretch. 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.-
1904-05-09UKGWR 3700 Class 3440 City of TruroLocSteamUnmod.Claimed to be the first steam locomotive to reach.-
1934-11-30UKLNER Class A3 4472 Flying ScotsmanLocSteamUnmod.In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated by a steam locomotive.-
1895-10-24Lake Shore and Michigan Southern RailwayUSBrooks-built ten-wheeler and trainLocSteamUnmod.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.-
1895-08-22UKLNWR No. 790 HardwickeLocSteamUnmod.Maximum speed claimed, although average speed record was authenticated.-
1854-06UKBristol & Exeter Railway #41LocSteamUnmod.Broad gauge-
1893-05-10USEmpire State Express No. 999LocSteamUnmod. claimed, which would make it the first wheeled vehicle to exceed.-
1850UKGreat BritainLocSteamUnmod. claimed-
1848USBoston and Maine Railroad AntelopeLocSteamUnmod.First authenticated, in 26 minutes.-
1830UKStephenson's RocketLocSteamUnmod.-
1825UKLocomotion No. 1LocSteamUnmod.-
1804-02-21UKRichard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotiveLocSteamUnmod.-

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.
SpeedDateLineCountryTrainArr.PowerStateComments
1974-08-14High Speed Ground Test CenterUSLIMRVLocGas turbineProto
1966-07-23Butler, Indiana to Stryker, OhioUSNew York Central Budd RDC-3 M-497LocJetProto.Jet aero engines
1928-06-23GermanyOpel RAK IIILocRocketProto.Unmanned. Some sources say or. See:,.
1931-06-21Berlin - HamburgGermanySchienenzeppelinSinglePropellerProto.Propeller-pushed railcar with a gasoline aero engine. Engine by BMW.
1921-07-24Moscow-TulaSoviet UnionAerowagonSinglePropellerProto.Propeller-driven railcar with a gasoline aero engine.

Using an air cushion and a Monorail, the Aérotrain set on 5 March 1974 a mean speed of 417.6 km/h and a peak speed of 430.4 km/h.

Conventional wheeled — Narrow gauge

Maglev trains

Rocket sleds

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 :
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All Trains Commercially Operated

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