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Determination of the fastest railed vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".
The French TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) is the fastest conventional train in the world, using powered metal wheels riding on metal rails. In April 2007, the TGV broke its own 1990 record with a new speed of 574.8 km/h (357.18 mph) under test conditions with a shortened train (two power cars and three passenger cars).
The Japanese JR-Maglev is the fastest non-conventional train in the world, having achieved 581 km/h (361 mph) on a magnetic-levitation track. Unmanned rocket sleds that ride on rails have reached over 10,400 km/h (6,462 mph), equivalent to Mach 8.5. The fastest manned rail vehicle is a manned rocket sled, that travelled at 1,017 km/h (635 mph).
[edit] Conventional wheeled
- Further information: TGV world speed record
| km/h (mph) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
Date |
Comments |
| 162.5 (100.9) |
Siemens & Halske Drehstrom |
Electric (Locomotive or EMU?) |
Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) |
1901 |
Drehstrom: Three-phase. Some sources say 160 or 162 km/h. See: [1]. |
| 203 (126.1) |
Siemens & Halske Drehstrom-Triebwagen |
Electric multiple unit (EMU) |
Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) |
6 October 1903 |
Drehstrom-Triebwagen: Three-phase-Multiple unit. Some sources say 7 October, others say 201 or 200.99 km/h and others say an improbable 213 km/h. See: de:Studiengesellschaft für Elektrische Schnellbahnen, [2], [3]. |
| 206.7 (128.4) |
Siemens & Halske Drehstrom-Triebwagen |
Electric multiple unit |
Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) |
23 October 1903 |
Drehstrom-Triebwagen: Three-phase-Multiple unit. |
| 210.2 (130.6) |
AEG Drehstrom-Triebwagen |
Electric multiple unit |
Between Marienfelde and Zossen, Germany (de:Königlich Preussische Militär-Eisenbahn) |
28 October 1903 |
Drehstrom-Triebwagen: Three-phase-Multiple unit. Many sources say 27 October. On 25 November 1903 a Siemens & Halske train attained 210 km/h. Absolute record. Broken by Schienenzeppelin in 1931. Record for electrical trains until 1954. See: de:Studiengesellschaft für Elektrische Schnellbahnen, [4], [5]. |
| 256 (159) |
1000 Type Shinkansen |
Electric multiple unit |
Japan |
30 March 1963 |
On Odawara test track, now part of Tōkaidō Shinkansen. |
| 286 (177.6) |
951 Type Shinkansen |
Electric multiple unit |
Japan |
24 February 1972 |
On Sanyō Shinkansen. |
| 319 (198.1) |
961 Type Shinkansen |
Electric multiple unit |
Japan |
7 December 1979 |
On Oyama test track, now part of Tōhoku Shinkansen. |
| 380 (236.12) |
SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 |
Electric multiple unit |
France |
26 February 1981 |
On LGV Sud-Est. Conventional wheeled absolute record. |
| 406.9 (252.83) |
InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) |
Electric multiple unit |
West Germany |
1 May 1988 |
Conventional wheeled absolute record. |
| 408.4 (253.7) |
SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 |
Electric multiple unit |
France |
12 December 1988 |
On LGV Sud-Est. Conventional wheeled absolute record. |
| 482.4 (299.7) |
SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 |
Electric multiple unit |
France |
5 December 1989 |
On LGV Atlantique. Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Conventional wheeled absolute record. |
| 515.3 (320.1) (320.19) |
SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 |
Electric multiple unit |
France |
18 May 1990 |
On LGV Atlantique. Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Conventional wheeled absolute record. |
| 574.8 (357.18) |
SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 |
Electric multiple unit |
France |
3 April 2007 |
On LGV Est. Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers. Conventional wheeled absolute record. |
[edit] Electric locomotives
[edit] Gas turbine
[edit] Diesel
[edit] Petrol
| km/h (mph) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
Date |
Comments |
| 8 (4.97) |
Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
21 February 1804 |
| 24 (15) |
Locomotion No. 1 |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
1825 |
| 48 (30) |
Stephenson's Rocket |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
1830 |
| 96.6 (60) |
Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope |
Steam |
United States |
1848 |
First authenticated 60 mph, 26 miles in 26 minutes. |
| 125.6 (78) |
Great Britain |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
1850 |
80mph claimed |
| 131.6 (81.8) |
Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
June 1854 |
| 131 (82) |
Empire State Express No. 999 |
Steam |
United States |
May 10, 1893 |
112 mph (179 km/h) claimed, which would make it the first wheeled vehicle to exceed 100 mph.[1] |
| 145 (90) |
LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
22-23 August 1895 |
Maximum speed claimed, although average speed record was authenticated (see below). |
| 164 (102.3) |
GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
9 May 1904 |
Claimed to be the first steam locomotive to reach 100 mph. |
| 185.07 (115.00) |
Pennsylvania Railroad E6s #460 |
Steam |
United States |
11 June 1927 |
Claimed. E6s #7002 was clocked at Crestline, Ohio at 127.1 mph (204.55 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.[citation needed] |
| 160 (100) |
LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
30 November 1934 |
In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (160 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[2]
|
| 168.5 (104.70) |
LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
5 March 1935 |
First run at 100+ mph with complete, surviving documentation. |
| 181.1 (112.53) |
Milwaukee Road class A #2 |
Steam |
United States |
15 May 1935 |
Claimed[citation needed] |
| 180.3 (112) |
LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
29 September 1935 |
Authenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph. |
| 200.4 (124.52) |
Borsig DRG series 05 002 |
Steam |
Germany |
11 May 1936 |
| 202.6 (125.88) |
LNER Class A4 No.4468 Mallard |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
3 July 1938 |
Peak speed 202.6 km/h, mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h. Mallard suffered an overheated big end during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[3] |
[edit] Rocket
[edit] Hovertrain
| km/h (mph) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
Date |
Comments |
| 100 |
Aérotrain 01 |
Hovercraft train, Propeller engine |
fr:Gometz-la-Ville, France |
21 February 1966 |
|
| 200 |
Aérotrain 01 |
Hovercraft train, Propeller engine |
Gometz-la-Ville, France |
A few days after 21 February 1966 |
|
| 303 |
Aérotrain 01 |
Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine |
Gometz-la-Ville, France |
23 December 1966 |
With the help of an auxiliary rocket. |
| 345 |
Aérotrain 02 |
Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine |
Gometz-la-Ville, France |
November 1967 |
|
| 422 |
Aérotrain 02 |
Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine |
Gometz-la-Ville, France |
22 January 1969 |
With the help of an auxiliary rocket. |
| 430.4 |
Aérotrain I-80 Haute Vitesse (HV) |
Hovercraft train, Jet aero engine |
Chevilly, Loiret, France |
5 March 1974 |
Peak speed 430.4 km/h, average speed over two runs in opposite directions 417.6 km/h on a 3 km track. |
[edit] Maglev
| km/h (mph) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
Date |
Comments |
| 90 |
MBB Prinzipfahrzeug |
Maglev |
MBB's Ottobrunn factory (near Munich), West Germany |
6 May 1971 |
660 m test track; MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle. |
| 164 (101.9) |
Transrapid 02 |
Maglev |
Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach, West Germany |
October 1971 |
930 m test track which included one curve. |
| 250 |
Transrapid 04 |
Maglev |
Munich - Allach, West Germany |
end 1973 |
| 253.2 (157.3) |
Transrapid 04 |
Maglev |
West Germany |
21 November 1977 |
| 504 |
JR-Maglev ML-500R |
Maglev |
Miyazaki Maglev Test Track, Japan |
12 December 1979 |
| 517 (321.24) |
JR-Maglev ML-500R |
Maglev |
Miyazaki Maglev Test Track, Japan |
21 December 1979 |
| 531 (329.94) |
JR-Maglev MLX01 |
Maglev |
Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan |
12 December 1997 |
Three-car train set. |
| 550 (341.75) |
JR-Maglev MLX01 |
Maglev |
Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan |
24 December 1997 |
Three-car train set. |
| 552 (342.99) |
JR-Maglev MLX01 |
Maglev |
Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan |
14 April 1999 |
Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated. |
| 581 (361.01) |
JR-Maglev MLX01 |
Maglev |
Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan |
2 December 2003 |
Three-car train set. Absolute record (excepting rocket sleds). Guinness Book of Records authenticated. |
[edit] Unmanned - other propulsion
| km/h (mph) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
Date |
Comments |
| 401.3 |
Komet |
Maglev |
Manching, Germany |
1974 |
By MBB. Propelled by six hot water rockets. |
[edit] Relative passing speed between two trains
[edit] Unmodified (commercially operated)
[edit] Top speed
[edit] Conventional wheeled
[edit] Maglev
[edit] Relative passing speed between two trains
[edit] Average speed over long distance
Demonstration or other special workings with record average speed over distances of more than 160km (100 miles).
[edit] Scheduled trains
[edit] Average speed (from station to station)
| Average speed km/h (mph) |
Top speed km/h (mph) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
From |
To |
Distance |
Date |
Comments |
| 115 (71.4) |
128.8 (80) |
Cheltenham Spa Express |
Steam |
United Kingdom |
Swindon |
London |
124.45km (77.3 miles) |
1932 |
77.3 miles in 65 minutes. Claimed by the Great Western Railway at the time to be the world's fastest train. |
| 124 (77.0) |
160 (99.4) |
"Fliegender Hamburger" |
Diesel-electric |
Germany |
Berlin |
Hamburg |
286 km |
1933 |
DMU, 98 passengers |
| 132.1 (82.0) |
160 (99.4) |
Mistral |
Electric |
France |
Paris |
Dijon |
315 km |
1964 |
|
| 162.8 (101.1) |
210 (130.4) |
Hikari Shinkansen |
Electric |
Japan |
Tokyo |
Shin-Osaka |
515.0 km |
1965 |
stopped at Nagoya and Kyoto |
| 163 101.2) |
200 (124.2) |
Etendard |
Electric |
France |
St-Pierre-des-Corps |
Poitiers |
100 km |
1973 |
old line, locomotive hauled (CC6500) |
| 214 (132.9) |
260 (161.4) |
TGV |
Electric |
France |
Paris |
Lyon-Brotteaux |
429 km |
1983 |
|
| 261.8 (162.6) |
300 (186.3) |
Nozomi Shinkansen |
Electric |
Japan |
Hiroshima |
Kokura |
192.0 km |
1997 |
operated by 500 Series Shinkansen |
| 263.3 (163.3) |
320 (198.7) |
TGV |
Electric |
France |
Lyon-St Exupéry |
Aix-en-Provence |
289.6 km |
2005 |
|
| 279.3 (173.4) [4] |
320 (198.7) |
TGV |
Electric |
France |
Lorraine TGV |
Champagne TGV |
167.6 km |
2007 |
on new LGV Est |
[edit] Top speed (first attained)
| Top speed (km/h) |
Average speed (km/h) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
From |
To |
Distance |
Date |
Comments |
| 210 |
128.9 |
Hikari Shinkansen |
Electric |
Japan |
Tokyo |
Shin-Osaka |
515 km |
1964 |
Fastest conventional |
| 260 |
- |
TGV |
Electric |
France |
Paris |
Lyon-Brotteaux |
430 km |
1981 |
Fastest conventional |
| 270 |
- |
TGV |
Electric |
France |
Paris |
Lyon-Brotteaux |
430 km |
1983 |
Fastest conventional |
| 300 |
- |
TGV |
Electric |
France |
Paris |
Le Mans |
202 km |
1989 |
Fastest conventional |
| 431 |
245.5 |
Shanghai Maglev Train |
Maglev |
China |
Shanghai Pudong Airport |
Shanghai Longyang Road |
30 km |
2003 |
Fastest fully operating commercial |
[edit] Average speed (between terminating stations)
| Average speed (km/h) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
From |
To |
Distance |
Date |
Comments |
| 242.5 |
Nozomi Shinkansen |
Electric |
Japan |
Shin-Osaka |
Hakata |
554 km |
1997 |
conventional wheeled |
| 250 |
TGV |
Electric |
France |
Paris-Lyon |
Marseille St-Charles |
750 km |
2001... |
conventional wheeled |
[edit] Rocket sled
| Top speed (km/h) |
Train |
Type |
Location |
Date |
Comments |
| 1017 |
|
Rocket sled |
Holloman Air Force Base (USA) |
10 December 1954 |
Manned by John Stapp. Fastest manned rocket-sled. Fastest manned rail vehicle. Fastest manned open-cockpit vehicle. [5] |
| 4972 |
|
Rocket sled |
New Mexico (USA) |
1959 |
Umanned. It ran on SNORT (Supersonic Naval Ordnance Track). |
| 9845 |
|
Rocket sled |
Holloman Air Force Base (USA) |
October 1982 |
Unmanned. It blasted a 25-pound payload to a speed of 6119 mph. |
| 10430 |
|
Rocket sled |
Holloman Air Force Base (USA) |
30 April 2003 |
Unmanned. It was the final stage of a four-stage sled train, which included the sled, a Super Roadrunner rocket motor, and a 192-pound payload on top. The sled train delivered payload into a target at a velocity of 9465 feet per second, or 6453 mph (2885 m/s), or Mach 8.5. |
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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Extremes of motion |
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| Speed |
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| Distance |
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| See also |
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