these are the top 10 fastest trains in the world see how the new amtrak acela compares 2961

These are the top 10 fastest trains in the world. See how the new Amtrak Acela compares.

2025-08-11T21:22:20Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. Amtrak announced a new,…

2025-08-11T21:22:20Z

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  • Amtrak announced a new, faster line of Acela trains that will begin service starting August 28.
  • The NextGen Acela trains will reach a top speed of 160 mph, surpassing the current 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, Amtrak announced a new line of faster trains to run in the Northeast Corridor, connecting cities like Boston, New York, and Washington, DC, starting on August 28.

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

The Acela is 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.

Running on “ancient tracks,” as reported by The New York Times, even the fastest Amtrak trains still deal with outdated transit design that prevents higher speeds.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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