From Japan to Morocco to China, these passenger trains travel at speeds of up to 311 miles per hour.
In a slideshow on Jalopnik, Collin Woodard lists the world’s 10 fastest trains — none of which are in the United States.
In Italy, the Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 runs at speeds of up to 242 miles per hour. Morocco’s ONCF Al Boraq has a travel speed of 199 mph, with a top speed of 222 mph. Japan’s famous JR Shinkansen also travels at 199 mph, with a top speed of 275 mph.
The top three fastest trains in the world are all in China: the Shanghai Maglev takes the top spot with a travel speed of 286 mph and a top speed of 311 mph.
By contrast, most Amtrak passenger routes have a maximum speed of around 79 mph, with some exceptions like the Acela Express, which can travel at up to 150 mph in some areas. On most routes, the average travel speed is between 50 and 70 mph.
FULL STORY: These Are The Fastest Trains In The World
Brightline Founder Predicts a Passenger Rail Resurgence
The HSR operator wants to expand to more US regions.
Report Quantifies the Potential Benefits of High-Speed Rail
Building more high-speed passenger rail in the United States could have significant economic and environmental impacts, creating jobs and reducing carbon emissions.
California HSR Could Be Up and Running by 2033
A newly restructured leadership promises to speed up the arduous construction process and start running trains in five to eight years.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research