THE FASTEST TRAINS OF THE WORLD

For most of us, holidays conjure up images of trains. Trains have come a long way from the days of locomotives to the now popular high speed rail.

The first such system began operations in Japan in 1964 and was widely known as the bullet train. High-speed trains normally operate onstandard gauge tracks of continuously welded rail on grade-separated right-of-waythat incorporates a large turning radius in its design.

Many countries have developed high-speed rail to connect major cities, including China, France, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, Turkey, South Korea and Spain.

Here we have a low down of some of the fastest trains in the world!

1. SHANGHAI MAGLEV TRAIN, CHINA

Operating speed: 431 km/h

Capacity: 501 km/h

The Chinese magnetic levitation train was built as a joint venture by Siemens and ThyssenKrupp and was launched in 2003. It travels the 30km trip from downtown Shanghai to the Pudong International Airport in less than eight minutes.

It runs on the Shanghai Maglev Line, which is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line, extending from Longyang Road Station of Metro Line 2 and ending at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

2. HARMONY CRH380A, CHINA

Operating speed: 380 km/h

Capacity: 487 km/h

Harmony CRH 380A, with maximum operational speed of 380kmph, is currently the second fastest operating train in the world.

The vibration free train was constructed by CSR Qingdao Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company, the CRH380A was launched in 2010 and can carry up to 494 passengers.

3. AGV ITALO, ITALY

Operating speed: 360 km/h

Capacity: 574.8 km/h

Designed by Alstom, the AGV (Automotrice à grande vitesse) is a high-speed electric train, which commenced commercial service on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Bologna-Milan line in Italy in 2012.

The train broke a record speed of 574.8kmph in April 2007.

Considered to be the most modern train in Europe, AGV Italo complies with the European TSI interoperability standard, which includes safety, reliability and availability, health, environmental protection and technical compatibility.

4. SIEMENS VELARO E / AVS 103

Operating speed: 350 km/h

Capacity: 400 km/h

Velaro E, designated as AVE S 103 in Spain, is the fastest series-production high-speed train in the world. It achieved a whopping speed of about 400kmph during its test trips in Spain.

The train was ordered by Spanish National Railways Renfe, and operates on the Barcelona-Madrid line.

5. TALGO 350 (T350)

Operating speed: 350 km/h

Capacity: 360 km/h

Talgo 350, which initially entered service with the name RENFE AVE Class 10, was developed by Patentes Talgo (Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoechea Oriol) and manufactured by Patentes Talgo in collaboration with Bombardier Transportation.

Commonly known as El Pato (meaning The Duck in Spanish), the train has been operating on the Madrid-Zaragoza-Lleida section of the Madrid-Barcelona line in Spain since 2005.

6. SHINKANSEN E5, JAPAN

Operating speed: 320 km/h

Capacity: 400 km/h

Nicknamed the duck-billed platypus because of its distinctive nose, the Shinkansen E5 bullet train began commercial operations in 2011. The train is operated by East Japan Railway Company and connects Tokyo with Aomori.

The train features full active suspension (FSA) system, which reduces the vibration of the moving bogies, and a 15m long nose which reduces the sound blast in tunnels.

7. TGV, FRANCE

Operating speed: 320 km/h

Capacity: 380 km/h

France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, meaning high speed train) operates to 149 destinations across the country, with various connections to neighbouring countries. The TGV is considered the fastest way to visit the various regions of France.

8. ICE 3, GERMANY

Operating speed: 320 km/h

Capacity: 369 km/h

The Intercity-Express (ICE 3) is built by Siemens Bombardier and operated by Germany’s Deutsche Bahn. The train can seat a maximum of 458 passengers and runs on high-speed lines, such as Frankfurt-Cologne.

9. ALSTOM EURODUPLEX

Operating speed: 320 km/h

Capacity: 320 km/h

Alstom-built Euroduplex is the third generation of TGV Duplex, which are touted to be the only double-decker, interoperable high-speed trains capable of running on European networks at 320kmph.

The Euroduplex was initially introduced on the Rhine-Rhone LGV high-speed rail line. The train is capable of transporting 1,020 passengers (multiple units), compared to TGV Duplex which transports about 512 passengers.

Euroduplex trains are designed to operate on French, German, Swiss and Luxembourgish rail networks. They are equipped with traction systems adapted to different electric currents used across Europe.

10. KTX- SANCHEON, SOUTH KOREA

Operating speed: 305 km/h

Capacity: 330 km/h

Built by Hyundai Rotem, South Korea’s high-speed KTX-II, renamed the KTX-Sancheon, began operations in 2010 and carries just over 360 passengers.

So the next time you get a chance to travel in any of these countries, you know which train to take! 

Enjoy your journey!!!