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    World’s Top 10 Fastest Trains: See How the New Amtrak Acela Compares

    Press RoomBy No Comments4 Mins Read

    • Amtrak launched a new, faster line of Acela trains on August 28.
    • The NextGen Acela trains can reach a top speed of 160 mph, surpassing the previous fleet by 10 mph.
    • In China, the Fuxing Hao trains typically reach a maximum speed of 217 mph.

    The US is still trying to join the high-speed rail club.

    On Thursday, it made its latest bid: Amtrak launched a new line of faster trains to run in the Northeast Corridor, connecting cities like Boston, New York, and Washington, DC.

    The NextGen Acela trains can reach a top speed of 160 mph, outspeeding the previous Acela fleet by 10 mph.

    The Acela was already the fastest train in the US. It’s followed by the Florida Brightline, which runs between Orlando and Miami at a top speed of 125 mph.

    However, these speeds are far behind other passenger trains around the world.

    While promising developments in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Texas are currently under construction, high-speed passenger trains — often characterized as systems that run above 186 mph — do not yet exist in the US, The New York Times reported.

    Running on “ancient tracks,” as reported by The New York Times, even the fastest Amtrak trains still deal with outdated transit design that prevents higher speeds.

    Here are the 10 fastest trains in the world, from countries including France and China. This ranking is based on the speed at which the trains typically run rather than their top recorded speed, which often counts test runs.

    7 (tie). Eurostar e320, United Kingdom


    Eurostar e320

    The Eurostar connects the United Kingdom to other European cities through the Eurotunnel.


    Gareth Fuller – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

    Typical speed: 186 mph (capable of reaching 200 mph)

    Type: Electric multiple unit train

    Serviced route: Multiple routes, including London-Paris and London-Brussels

    Years in service: Since 2015

    7 (tie). ICE3, Germany


    FILE - In this Wednesday, June 19, 2019 file photo, an ICE train approaches the main train station in Frankfurt, Germany. Germany's upper house of parliament has approved a plan to lower the value-added tax on train tickets, making rail travel cheaper from Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file)

    The ICE3 also has routes connecting Frankfurt to Amsterdam and Brussels.


    Associated Press

    Typical speed: 186 mph (capable of reaching 205 mph)

    Type: Electric multiple unit train

    Serviced route: Frankfurt-Cologne

    Years in service: Since 2000

    7 (tie). Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000, Italy


    Trenitalia ETR1000

    The Frecciarossa connects major cities in Italy, from Turin in the North to Salerno in the South.


    Benson Truong/Shutterstock

    Typical speed: 186 mph (capable of reaching 224 mph)

    Type: High-speed rail

    Serviced route: Multiple routes, connecting cities like Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Salerno

    Years in service: Since 2014

    7 (tie). Shanghai Maglev, China


    Shanghai maglev

    The Shanghai Maglev once operated at top speeds of 268 mph prior to a 2021 reduction.


    Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

    Typical speed: 186 mph (capable of reaching 268 mph)

    Type: Magnetic levitation

    Serviced route: Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road Station in Pudong, Shanghai (18.6 miles)

    Years in service: Since 2003

    6. KTX, South Korea


    KTX train South Korea

    The KTX tracks are designed for speeds up to 217 mph.


    NGCHIYUI/Shutterstock

    Typical speed: 190 mph

    Type: High-speed rail

    Serviced route: Multiple routes, including Seoul-Busan

    Years in service: Since 2004

    5. AVE S-103, Spain


    AVE S-103 Spain

    The AVE S-103 is one of the fastest trains in Europe.


    Oriol Paris/Flickr Vision

    Typical speed: 193 mph (capable of reaching 217 mph)

    Type: High-speed rail

    Serviced route: Madrid-Barcelona

    Years in service: Since 2007

    2 (tie). Al Boraq, Morocco


    Al Boraq Morocco

    The Al Boraq was the first high-speed rail line in Africa.


    Mounir Taha/Shutterstock

    Typical speed: 199 mph

    Type: High-speed rail

    Serviced route: Casablanca-Tangier

    Years in service: Since 2018

    2 (tie). TGV, France


    TGV France

    The TGV has been in service for over 40 years as a high-speed train.


    Stefano Guidi/Getty Images

    Typical speed: 199 mph

    Type: High-speed rail

    Serviced route: Multiple routes, including Paris-Lyon, Paris-Marseille, and Paris-Nice

    Years in service: Since 1981

    2 (tie). JR East E5, Japan


    JR East E5

    The train connects Tokyo to northern provinces in Japan.


    Sankei/Getty Images

    Typical speed: 199 mph (capable of reaching 217 mph)

    Type: Shinkansen bullet train

    Serviced route: Tokyo-Aomori

    Years in service: Since 2011

    1. Fuxing Hao, China


    CR400 Fuxing

    The Fuxing Hao are currently the fastest trains in the world.


    Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

    Typical speed: 217 mph

    Type: Electric multiple unit train

    Serviced route: Multiple routes including Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Tianjin, and Beijing-Hong Kong

    Years in service: Since 2016

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