Land speed record for rail vehicles


Determination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".
The world record for manned passenger trains is held by the Japanese L0 Series, having achieved 603 km/h (375 mph) on a 42.8 km magnetic-levitation track in April 2015.[1]
The world record for conventional wheeled manned passenger trains is held by a specially tuned TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). Reduced to three cars with higher voltage, larger wheels and higher-tension pantograph wires, it broke the world record in April 2007, reaching 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) on a 140 km section of track.[2]
The fastest manned rail vehicle was a manned rocket sled, which carried USAF Colonel John Stapp at 1,017 km/h (632 mph).
Unmanned rocket sleds that ride on rails have reached over 10,400 km/h (6,460 mph), equivalent to Mach 8.5.
Contents
World speed records
Legend :
- Arr (Arrangement) : Disposition and number of elements forming the train.
-
- Loc (One locomotive pulling one or more cars)
- Multi (Multi Motorized Elements)
- Single (Single rail vehicle).
- Power: DC, DC 3rd rail, AC, Single phase, Triphase, Diesel-elec., Gas, Steam, Diesel-hydraulic, Propeller, Rocket, Jet.
- State: "Proto." (Prototype), "Unmod." (Unmodified from vehicles in service), "Unkn." (Unknown), "Tuned"
All Passenger Trains
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,
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
603 km/h (375 mph) | 2015-04-21 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | L0 Series | Multi | AC | Proto. | Seven-car train set, manned[1] |
590 km/h (367 mph) | 2015-04-16 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | L0 Series | Multi | AC | Proto. | Seven-car train set, manned[3] |
581 km/h (361 mph) | 2003-12-02 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | MLX01 | Multi | AC | Proto. | Three-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.[4] |
574.8 km/h (357 mph) | 2007-04-03 | LGV Est | France | SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 | Multi | AC | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[5] Current world record on steel rails. |
552 km/h (343 mph) | 1999-04-14 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | MLX01 | Multi | AC | Proto. | Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.[citation needed] |
550 km/h (342 mph) | 1997-12-24 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | MLX01 | Multi | AC | Proto. | Three-car train set.[citation needed] |
517 km/h (321 mph) | 1979-12-21 | Miyazaki Test Track | Japan | ML-500R | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
515.3 km/h (320 mph) | 1990-05-18 | LGV Atlantique | France | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 | Multi | AC | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[citation needed] |
504 km/h (313 mph) | 1979-12-12 | Miyazaki Test Track | Japan | ML-500R | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
501 km/h (311 mph) | 2003-11-12 | Shanghai Maglev Train | China | Transrapid SMT | Multi | AC | Unmod. | Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004[6] |
482.4 km/h (300 mph) | 1989-12-05 | LGV Atlantique | France | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 | Multi | AC | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[citation needed] |
443.0 km/h (275 mph) | 1996-07-26 | Tōkaidō Shinkansen | Japan | Class 955 Shinkansen | Multi | AC | Proto | [citation needed] |
425.0 km/h (264 mph) | 1993-12-21 | Jōetsu Shinkansen | Japan | Class 952/953 Shinkansen | Multi | AC | Proto | [citation needed] |
411.5 km/h (256 mph) | 1974-08-14 | High Speed Ground Test Center | USA | LIMRV [7] | Loc | Gas turbine | Proto | |
406.9 km/h (253 mph) | 1988-05-01 | Hanover-Würzburg HSR | West Germany | InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
380 km/h (236 mph) | 1981-02-26 | LGV Sud-Est | France | SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 | Multi | AC | Tuned | [citation needed] |
331 km/h (206 mph) | 1955-03-29 | "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax | France | Jeumont-Schneider BB 9004 | Loc | DC | Tuned | Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.[8][9] |
320.6 km/h (199 mph) | 1955-03-28 | "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax | France | Alsthom CC 7107 | Loc | DC | Tuned | [citation needed] |
253.2 km/h (157 mph) | 1977-11-21 | Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach | West Germany | Transrapid 04 | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
250 km/h (155 mph) | 1973 | Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach | West Germany | Transrapid 04 | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
243 km/h (151 mph) | 1954-02-21 | Between Dijon and Beaune | France | Alsthom CC 7121 | Loc | DC | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
215 km/h (134 mph) | 1939-06-23 | Germany | DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) | Multi | Diesel-hydraulic | Unmod. | [citation needed] | |
205 km/h (127 mph) | 1936-02-17 | Germany | DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" | Multi | Diesel-hydraulic | Unmod. | First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[citation needed] | |
180.3 km/h (112 mph) | 1935-09-29 | East Coast Main Line between Biggleswade and Sandy | UK | LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | Authenticated speed. Some sources say 112.5 mph.[citation needed] |
168.5 km/h (105 mph) | 1935-03-05 | East Coast Main Line near Essendine | UK | LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | First authenticated run at over 100 mph with complete, surviving documentation.[citation needed] |
166.6 km/h (104 mph) | 1934-07-20 | USA | Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 | Loc | Steam | Unmod | A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[10] | |
164 km/h (102 mph) | 1971-10 | Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach | West Germany | Transrapid 02 | Single | AC | Proto. | 930 m test track which included one curve.[citation needed] |
161 km/h (100 mph) | 1934-11-30 | East Coast Main Line | UK | LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[11] |
131.6 km/h (82 mph) | 1854-06 | UK | Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | Broad gauge[citation needed] | |
125.6 km/h (78 mph) | 1850 | UK | Great Britain | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed[by whom?][citation needed] | |
96.6 km/h (60 mph) | 1848 | USA | Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.[citation needed] | |
90 km/h (56 mph) | 1971-05-06 | MBB's Ottobrunn factory | West Germany | MBB Prinzipfahrzeug | Single | AC | Proto. | 660 m test track. Near Munich. MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle.[citation needed] |
48 km/h (30 mph) | 1830 | Liverpool and Manchester Railway | UK | Stephenson's Rocket | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
46 km/h (29 mph) | 1829 | Rainhill Trials | UK | Stephenson's Rocket | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [12] |
24 km/h (15 mph) | 1825 | UK | Locomotion No. 1 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] | |
8 km/h (5 mph) | 1804-02-21 | UK | Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
Conventional wheeled
The following is a list of verified absolute world speed records for conventional wheeled rail vehicles.
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
574.8 km/h (357 mph) | 2007-04-03 | LGV Est | France | SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 | Multi | AC | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[5] Current world record on steel rails. |
515.3 km/h (320 mph) | 1990-05-18 | LGV Atlantique | France | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 | Multi | AC | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[citation needed] |
482.4 km/h (300 mph) | 1989-12-05 | LGV Atlantique | France | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 | Multi | AC | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[citation needed] |
443.0 km/h (275 mph) | 1996-07-26 | Tōkaidō Shinkansen | Japan | Class 955 Shinkansen | Multi | AC | Proto | [citation needed] |
425.0 km/h (264 mph) | 1993-12-21 | Jōetsu Shinkansen | Japan | Class 952/953 Shinkansen | Multi | AC | Proto | [citation needed] |
411.5 km/h (256 mph) | 1974-08-14 | High Speed Ground Test Center | USA | LIMRV [7] | Loc | Gas turbine | Proto | |
406.9 km/h (253 mph) | 1988-05-01 | Hanover-Würzburg HSR | West Germany | InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
380 km/h (236 mph) | 1981-02-26 | LGV Sud-Est | France | SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 | Multi | AC | Tuned | [citation needed] |
331 km/h (206 mph) | 1955-03-29 | "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax | France | Jeumont-Schneider BB 9004 | Loc | DC | Tuned | Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.[8][9] |
320.6 km/h (199 mph) | 1955-03-28 | "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax | France | Alsthom CC 7107 | Loc | DC | Tuned | [citation needed] |
243 km/h (151 mph) | 1954-02-21 | Between Dijon and Beaune | France | Alsthom CC 7121 | Loc | DC | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
215 km/h (134 mph) | 1939-06-23 | Germany | DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) | Multi | Diesel-hydraulic | Unmod. | [citation needed] | |
205 km/h (127 mph) | 1936-02-17 | Germany | DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" | Multi | Diesel-hydraulic | Unmod. | First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[citation needed] | |
180.3 km/h (112 mph) | 1935-09-29 | East Coast Main Line between Biggleswade and Sandy | UK | LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | Authenticated speed. Some sources say 112.5 mph.[citation needed] |
168.5 km/h (105 mph) | 1935-03-05 | East Coast Main Line near Essendine | UK | LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | First authenticated run at over 100 mph with complete, surviving documentation.[citation needed] |
166.6 km/h (104 mph) | 1934-07-20 | USA | Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 | Loc | Steam | Unmod | A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[10] | |
161 km/h (100 mph) | 1934-11-30 | East Coast Main Line | UK | LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[11] |
131.6 km/h (82 mph) | 1854-06 | UK | Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | Broad gauge[citation needed] | |
125.6 km/h (78 mph) | 1850 | UK | Great Britain | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed[by whom?][citation needed] | |
96.6 km/h (60 mph) | 1848 | USA | Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.[citation needed] | |
48 km/h (30 mph) | 1830 | Liverpool and Manchester Railway | UK | Stephenson's Rocket | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
46 km/h (29 mph) | 1829 | Rainhill Trials | UK | Stephenson's Rocket | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [12] |
24 km/h (15 mph) | 1825 | UK | Locomotion No. 1 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] | |
8 km/h (5 mph) | 1804-02-21 | UK | Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
Electric
The following is a list of speed records for rail vehicles with electric traction motors and powered by electricity transferred to the train.
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
574.8 km/h (357 mph) | 2007-04-03 | LGV Est | France | SNCF TGV POS Set No. 4402 | Multi | Single phase | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[5] Current world record. |
515.3 km/h (320 mph) | 1990-05-18 | LGV Atlantique | France | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325 | Multi | Single phase | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[citation needed] |
487.3 km/h (303 mph) | 2010-12-03 | Beijing–Shanghai HSR | China | CRH380BL | Multi | Single phase | Unmod. | 16-car trainset[13] |
486.1 km/h (302 mph) | 2010-12-03 | Beijing–Shanghai HSR | China | CRH380AL | Multi | Single phase | Unmod. | 16-car trainset, near Sùzhōu [14] |
482.4 km/h (300 mph) | 1989-12-05 | LGV Atlantique | France | SNCF TGV Atlantique Set No. 325|- | Multi | Single phase | Tuned | Set formed of 2 power cars + 3 trailers.[citation needed] |
443.0 km/h (275 mph) | 1996-07-26 | Tōkaidō Shinkansen | Japan | Class 955 Shinkansen | Multi | Single phase | Proto | |
425.0 km/h (264 mph) | 1993-12-21 | Jōetsu Shinkansen | Japan | Class 952/953 Shinkansen | Multi | Single phase | Proto | |
416.6 km/h (259 mph) | 2010-09-28 | Shanghai–Hangzhou HSR | China | CRH380A | Multi | Single phase | Unmod. | [15] |
408.4 km/h (254 mph) | 1988-12-12 | LGV Sud-Est | France | SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 88 | Multi | Single phase | Tuned | [citation needed] |
406.9 km/h (253 mph) | 1988-05-01 | Hanover-Würzburg HSR | West Germany | InterCityExperimental (ICE-V) | Multi | Single phase | Proto. | [citation needed] |
403.7 km/h (251 mph) | 2006-07-15 | Guadalajara-Calatayud, | Spain | Siemens Velaro E (AVE S-103) | Multi | Single phase | Unmod. | 15–16 July [16][17] |
380 km/h (236 mph) | 1981-02-26 | LGV Sud-Est | France | SNCF TGV Sud-Est Set No. 16 | Multi | Single phase | Tuned | [citation needed] |
362 km/h (225 mph) | 2009-02-03 | Between Florence and Bologna | Italy | ETR 500 Y1 | Multi | Single phase | Tuned | Indoor world speed record, in the Monte Bibele tunnel on the high speed line between Florence and Bologna.[18][19] |
357 km/h (222 mph) | 2006-09-02 | Nuremberg-Munich high-speed rail line | Germany | Siemens Eurosprinter ES64U4 No. 1216 050-5 | Loc | Single phase | Unmod. | On Nuremberg-Munich high-speed rail line, locomotive owned by ÖBB, pulling one car.[8][20] |
331 km/h (206 mph) | 1955-03-29 | "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax | France | Jeumont-Schneider BB 9004 | Loc | DC | Tuned | Pulling 3 cars. Train was specially modified for the test. The track was badly damaged by the test.[8][9] |
320.6 km/h (199 mph) | 1955-03-28 | "Les Landes", between Bordeaux and Dax | France | Alstom CC 7107 | Loc | DC | Tuned | [citation needed] |
319 km/h (198 mph) | 1979-12-07 | Oyama test track | Japan | Class 961 Shinkansen | Multi | Single phase | Proto. | test track, now part of Tōhoku Shinkansen[21] |
286 km/h (178 mph) | 1972-02-24 | Sanyō Shinkansen | Japan | Class 951 Shinkansen | Multi | Single phase | Proto. | [21] |
256 km/h (159 mph) | 1963-03-30 | Odawara test track | Japan | Class 1000 Shinkansen | Multi | Single phase | Proto. | Test track now part of Tōkaidō Shinkansen[21] |
243 km/h (151 mph) | 1954-02-21 | Between Dijon and Beaune | France | Alstom CC 7121 | Loc | DC | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
210.2 km/h (131 mph) | 1903-10-28 | Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen | Germany | AEG Drehstrom-Triebwagen | Multi | Triphase | Proto. | Many sources say 27 October.[22][23][24] |
203 km/h (126 mph) | 1939-20-07 | Between Florence and Milan | Italy | ETR 200 | Multi | DC | Unmod. | Record average speed between Bologna and Milan[25] |
203 km/h (126 mph) | 1903-10-06 | Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen | Germany | Siemens & Halske Drehstrom-Triebwagen | Multi | Triphase | Proto. | Some sources say 7 October, others say 200.99 km/h (125 mph) or an improbable 231 km/h (144 mph).[22][26][27] |
174 km/h (108 mph) | 1988-04-11 | UK | Class 442 (Wessex Electric) unit 2401 | Multi | DC 3rd rail | Unkn. | [citation needed] | |
162.5 km/h (101 mph) | 1901 | Royal Prussian Military Railway between Marienfelde and Zossen | Germany | Siemens & Halske Drehstrom | Multi | Triphase | Proto. | Some sources say 160 km/h (99 mph) or 162 km/h (101 mph).[28] |
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.
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
318 km/h (198 mph) | 1972-12-08 | France | TGV 001 prototype | Multi | Gas | Proto. | [citation needed] | |
271 km/h (168 mph) | 1993-10-05 | Saint Petersburg — Moscow | Russia | TEP80 | Multi | Diesel-elec | Proto. | Claimed,[29] but no verification from an independent witness[30] |
256.38 km/h (159 mph) | 2002-06-12 | Spain | Talgo XXI | Multi | Diesel-elec | Proto. | Claimed by Spanish manufacturer[citation needed] | |
238 km/h (148 mph) | 1987-11-01 | UK | Class 43 (HST) | Multi | Diesel-elec | Unkn. | Current official diesel speed record listed in 2006 Guinness Book of Records | |
230.4 km/h (143 mph) | 1973-06-12 | UK | Class 252 (HST prototype) | Multi | Diesel-elec | Proto. | [citation needed] | |
181 km/h (112 mph) | 1934-05-26 | USA | Pioneer Zephyr | Loc | Diesel-elec | Unkn. | [citation needed] |
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.
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
275 km/h (171 mph) | 1967-12-20 | USA | UAC TurboTrain | Multi | Gas | Unkn. | [31] | |
230 km/h (143 mph) | 1978-05-04 | Alcázar de San Juan - Rio Záncara | Spain | RENFE Class 353 | Single | Diesel-hydraulic | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
215 km/h (134 mph) | 1939-06-23 | Germany | DRG SVT 137 155 (Kruckenberg) | Multi | Diesel-hydraulic | Unmod. | [citation needed] | |
205 km/h (127 mph) | 1936-02-17 | Germany | DRG SVT 137 "Bauart Leipzig" | Multi | Diesel-hydraulic | Unmod. | World speed record. First diesel train faster than 200 km/h (124 mph)[citation needed] |
Steam
The following is a list of speed records for steam locomotives.
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
202.6 km/h (126 mph) | 1938-07-03 | UK | LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | [32][33] Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed 202.6 km/h (126 mph), mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h (125 mph). Mallard suffered an overheated crankpin during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[34] | |
200.4 km/h (125 mph) | 1936-05-11 | Germany | Borsig DRG series 05 002 | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | Level grade.[35] | |
185.07 km/h (115 mph) | 1905-06-11 | USA | Pennsylvania Railroad E2 #7002 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | Claimed.[by whom?] Clocked at Crestline, Ohio at 127.1 mph (205 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] | |
182.4 km/h (113 mph) | 1972-10-11 | Germany | BR 18 201 | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | The fastest operational steam locomotive as of 2011[update].[citation needed] | |
181.1 km/h (113 mph) | 1935-04-05 | USA | Milwaukee Road class A #2 | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | Claimed[by whom?] to have sustained 112.5 mph (181 km/h) for 14 miles (23 km). Average speed for 136 miles (219 km) between Milwaukee and New Lisbon, Wisconsin was 74.9 mph (121 km/h).[10] | |
180.3 km/h (112 mph) | 1935-09-29 | UK | LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | Authenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph.[citation needed] | |
168.5 km/h (105 mph) | 1935-03-05 | UK | LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | First run at 100+ mph with complete, surviving documentation.[citation needed] | |
166.6 km/h (104 mph) | 1934-07-20 | USA | Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 | Loc | Steam | Unmod | A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[10] | |
164 km/h (102 mph) | 1904-05-09 | UK | GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | Claimed[by whom?] to be the first steam locomotive to reach100 mph (161 km/h).[citation needed] | |
161 km/h (100 mph) | 1934-11-30 | UK | LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[11] | |
145 km/h (90 mph) | 1895-08-22 | UK | LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | Maximum speed claimed[by whom?], although average speed record was authenticated.[citation needed] | |
131.6 km/h (82 mph) | 1854-06 | UK | Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | Broad gauge[citation needed] | |
131 km/h (81 mph) | 1893-05-10 | USA | Empire State Express No. 999 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | 112 mph (180 km/h) claimed[by whom?], which would make it the first wheeled vehicle to exceed 100 mph (161 km/h).[36][37] | |
125.6 km/h (78 mph) | 1850 | UK | Great Britain | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | 80 mph (129 km/h) claimed[by whom?][citation needed] | |
96.6 km/h (60 mph) | 1848 | USA | Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.[citation needed] | |
48 km/h (30 mph) | 1830 | UK | Stephenson's Rocket | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] | |
24 km/h (15 mph) | 1825 | UK | Locomotion No. 1 | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] | |
8 km/h (5 mph) | 1804-02-21 | UK | Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive | Loc | Steam | Unmod. | [citation needed] |
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.
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr. | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
411.5 km/h (256 mph) | 1974-08-14 | High Speed Ground Test Center | USA | LIMRV [7] | Loc | Gas turbine | Proto | |
295.72 km/h (184 mph) | 1966-07-23 | Butler, Indiana to Stryker, Ohio | USA | New York Central Budd RDC-3 M-497 | Loc | Jet | Proto. | Jet aero engines (retrofitted to roof) |
280 km/h (174 mph) | 1928-06-23 | Germany | Opel RAK III | Loc | Rocket | Proto. | Unmanned. Some sources say 254 km/h (158 mph) or 290 km/h (180 mph). See:, .[38][39][40][41][42] | |
230.2 km/h (143 mph) | 1931-06-21 | Berlin - Hamburg | Germany | Schienenzeppelin | Single | Propeller | Proto. | Propeller-pushed railcar with a gasoline (petrol) aero engine. Engine by BMW.[citation needed] |
Using an air cushion and a Monorail, the Aérotrain set on 5 March 1974 a mean speed of 417.6 km/h (259.5 mph) and a peak speed of 430.4 km/h (267.4 mph).
Conventional wheeled — Narrow gauge
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
245 km/h (152 mph) | 1978-10-31 | Between Westonaria and Midway | South Africa | SAR Class 6E1 (No. E1525) | Loc | Single phase | Unkn. | [43][44][45] Scheffel bogie |
175 km/h (109 mph) | 1960-11-21 | JNR Tōkaidō Main Line | Japan | JNR KuMoYa93 test car | Multi | DC | Proto. | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [46] |
163 km/h (101 mph) | 1959-07-31 | JNR Tōkaidō Main Line | Japan | JNR 151 series | Multi | DC | Unkn. | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [46] |
145 km/h (90 mph) | 1957-09-27 | JNR Tōkaidō Main Line | Japan | Odakyū 3000 series SE Romancecar | Multi | DC | Unkn. | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [47] |
136 km/h (85 mph) | 1914 | South-West Africa | OMEG Rail motor coach No. «Kronprinz» | Single | Gasoline | Unkn. | 600 mm (1 ft 11 5⁄8 in) Summer 1914.[47] | |
129 km/h (80 mph) | 1954-12-15 | JNR Tokaido Main Line | Japan | JNR C62 steam locomotive No. C62 17 | Loc | Steam | Unkn. | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) [48] |
Maglev trains
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arr | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
603 km/h (375 mph) | 2015-04-21 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | L0 Series | Multi | AC | Proto. | Seven-car train set, manned[1] |
590 km/h (367 mph) | 2015-04-16 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | L0 Series | Multi | AC | Proto. | Seven-car train set, manned[3] |
581 km/h (361 mph) | 2003-12-02 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | MLX01 | Multi | AC | Proto. | Three-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.[4] |
552 km/h (343 mph) | 1999-04-14 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | MLX01 | Multi | AC | Proto. | Five-car train set. Guinness Book of Records authenticated.[citation needed] |
550 km/h (342 mph) | 1997-12-24 | Yamanashi Test Track | Japan | MLX01 | Multi | AC | Proto. | Three-car train set.[citation needed] |
517 km/h (321 mph) | 1979-12-21 | Miyazaki Test Track | Japan | ML-500R | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
504 km/h (313 mph) | 1979-12-12 | Miyazaki Test Track | Japan | ML-500R | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
501 km/h (311 mph) | 2003-11-12 | Shanghai Maglev Train | China | Transrapid SMT | Multi | AC | Unmod. | Recorded in 2003 at a test run before the commercial operation in 2004[6] |
411.5 km/h (256 mph) | 1974-08-14 | High Speed Ground Test Center | USA | LIMRV [7] | single | Cable | Proto | |
253.2 km/h (157 mph) | 1977-11-21 | Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach | West Germany | Transrapid 04 | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
250 km/h (155 mph) | 1973 | Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach | West Germany | Transrapid 04 | Multi | AC | Proto. | [citation needed] |
164 km/h (102 mph) | 1971-10 | Krauss-Maffei's plant in Munich - Allach | West Germany | Transrapid 02 | Single | AC | Proto. | 930 m test track which included one curve.[citation needed] |
90 km/h (56 mph) | 1971-05-06 | MBB's Ottobrunn factory | West Germany | MBB Prinzipfahrzeug | Single | AC | Proto. | 660 m test track. Near Munich. MBB: Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm, Prinzipfahrzeug: Principle vehicle.[citation needed] |
Rocket sleds
Speed | Date | Line | Country | Train | Arrangmt | Power | State | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10,326 km/h (6,416 mph) | 2003-04-29 | Holloman Air Force Base | USA | Rocket sled | Single | Rocket | Proto. | Unmanned. 6,416 mph (10,326 km/h) = Mach 8.5. Final stage of a four-stage sled train. Super Roadrunner rocket motor. 192-pound payload. For more than three miles the sled was in a helium tube to reduce air friction.[49] |
9,845 km/h (6,117 mph) | 1982-10 | Holloman Air Force Base | USA | Rocket sled | Single | Rocket | Proto. | Unmanned. It blasted a 25-pound payload to a speed of 6,119 mph (9,848 km/h).[citation needed] |
4,972 km/h (3,089 mph) | 1959 | China Lake, California | USA | Rocket sled | Single | Rocket | Proto. | Unmanned. On SNORT (Supersonic Naval Ordnance Track).[citation needed] |
1,017 km/h (632 mph) | 1954-12-10 | Holloman Air Force Base | USA | Rocket sled | Single | Rocket | Proto. | Manned by John Stapp. Fastest manned rocket-sled. Fastest manned rail vehicle. Fastest manned open-cockpit vehicle.[50] Zero to 1,017 km/h (632 mph) and back to zero in 3,500 feet (1,100 m) total.[51] |
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 : [Currently active] - [Old service]
All Trains Commercially Operated
Average speed | Top speed | Train | Type | Location | From | To | Distance | Date from | Date to | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
313.0 km/h (194 mph) | 350 km/h (217 mph) | CRH2 | Single phase | China | Wuhan | Guangzhou North | 922.0 km (573 mi) | 2009 | 2011 | On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway until July 2011[citation needed] |
283.7 km/h (176 mph) | CRH380A | Single phase | China | Shijiazhuang | Zhengzhou | 383.0 km (238 mi) | 2010 | On Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway[52] | ||
279.3 km/h (174 mph) | 320 km/h (199 mph) | TGV Duplex | Single phase | France | Lorraine TGV | Champagne-Ardenne TGV | 167.6 km (104 mi) | 2007 | On the LGV Est[53] | |
263.4 km/h (164 mph) | 320 km/h (199 mph) | E5 Series Shinkansen | Single phase | Japan | Omiya | Sendai | 294.1 km (183 mi) | 2013 | Operating the Hayabusa service on the Tohoku Shinkansen line[54] | |
263.3 km/h (164 mph) | 320 km/h (199 mph) | TGV Duplex | Single phase | France | Lyon-St Exupéry | Aix-en-Provence | 289.6 km (180 mi) | 2005 | On the LGV Méditerranée[citation needed] | |
263.2 km/h (164 mph) | 320 km/h (199 mph) | E6 Series Shinkansen | Single phase | Japan | Sendai | Morioka | 171.1 km (106 mi) | 2013 | Operating the Komachi service on the Tohoku Shinkansen line[55] | |
256.0 km/h (159 mph) | 300 km/h (186 mph) | N700-7000/8000 series | Single phase | Japan | Hiroshima | Kokura | 192.0 km (119 mi) | 2011 | Operating the Mizuho service on the Sanyo Shinkansen line[56] | |
250.43 km/h (156 mph) | 300 km/h (186 mph) | Nozomi Shinkansen | Single phase | Japan | Hiroshima | Kokura | 192.0 km (119 mi) | 1997 | Operated by 500 Series Shinkansen[citation needed] | |
249.5 km/h (155 mph) | 431 km/h (268 mph) | Shanghai Maglev Train | Magnetic levitation (EMS) | China | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | central Pudong | 30.5 km (19 mi) | 2004 | Operated by Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co., Ltd. | |
163.0 km/h (101 mph) | 200 km/h (124 mph) | Etendard | Single phase | France | St-Pierre-des-Corps | Poitiers | 100.0 km (62 mi) | 1973 | 1989 | Class CC6500 locomotive, now by TGV[citation needed] |
162.8 km/h (101 mph) | 210 km/h (130 mph) | Hikari Shinkansen | Single phase | Japan | Tokyo | Shin-Osaka | 515.0 km (320 mi)} | 1965 | Stopped at Nagoya and Kyoto[citation needed] | |
132.1 km/h (82 mph) | 160 km/h (99 mph) | Mistral | Single phase | France | Paris | Dijon | 315.0 km (196 mi) | 1964 | 1981 | [citation needed] |
134.05 km/h (83 mph) [57] | 186.68 km/h (116 mph) | Denver Zephyr | Diesel-elec. | USA | Chicago | Denver | 1,636 km (1,017 mi) | 1936 | 1956 | [10] A one-time run (not a regular schedule) The actual mean speed was 66 km/h (41 mph)[58] |
130.4 km/h (81 mph) | 161 km/h (100 mph) | Morning Hiawatha | Steam | USA | Sparta, Wisconsin | Portage, Wisconsin | 126.0 km (78 mi) | 1939 | 1971 | 78.3 miles (126.0 km) in 58 minutes,[10] Milwaukee Road class F7. |
124.3 km/h (77 mph) | 160 km/h (99 mph) | Fliegender Hamburger | Diesel-elec. | Germany | Berlin | Hamburg | 286.0 km (178 mi) | 1933 | 1939 | DMU, 98 passengers[citation needed] |
114.8 km/h (71 mph) | 148.7 km/h (92 mph) | Cheltenham Spa Express | Steam | UK | Swindon | London | 124.3 km (77 mi) | 1932 | 1960 | 77.25 miles (124.32 km) in 65 minutes. Claimed by the Great Western Railway at the time to be the world's fastest train. Now operated by First Great Western in 57 minutes with Class 43 HST.[citation needed] |
See also
References
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External links
- TGV 2007 record
- TGV 2007 record - SNCF Press release, SNCF Press release 2
- Alstom V 150, Alstom Press release
- Reuters TGV record, Reuters TGV record video
- Railway Speed Records
- Fastest steam locomotive
- RDECOM magazine 'Super Roadrunner' breaks land speed record
- 846 TS HYPERSONIC UPGRADE PROGRAM (contains World Speed Record video)
- World Speed Survey 1997
- (French) Retrouvez sur cette page les chiffres clés des records sur rail dans le monde
- Railway developments worldwide
- World Speed Survey 2007 Railway Gazette International September 2007
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 [1].
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ [2],
- ↑ [3].
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ [4].
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 de:Studiengesellschaft für Elektrische Schnellbahnen
- ↑ [5] Archived July 15, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Speed
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ [6] Archived August 14, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ [7] Archived January 15, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ [8] Archived June 15, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 Shaw 1958 p.47
- ↑ Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō magazine, November 2008 issue, p.61
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Aviation Week 3 January 1954 p15
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Railway Gazette International World Speed Survey 2007
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- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with unsourced statements from September 2013
- Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from September 2013
- Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007
- Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2011
- Articles that mention track gauge 1067 mm
- Articles that mention track gauge 600 mm
- Articles with French-language external links
- Land speed records
- Rail transport-related lists
- History of rail transport