Since High-Speed Trains were introduced in 1964, countries have raced to design trains with more speed and efficiency.
FleetLogging.com have decided to compile a list of the 20 fastest trains in the world which were in operation in 2020 with animations to race them.
A number of sources were used for the animations, including a number of well-known websites to make sure the animations are true to life.
In the ‘trains of today' race, the only UK entrant was the Eurostar E320 which came a respectable joint third, whilst the crown was taken by the Shanghai Transrapid, completing the ‘1km drag race' in just 8.30 seconds.
You can watch the race by clicking ‘start the race' on the animation below.
In the ‘trains of the future' drag race, two UK entrants took part in the race, including the new Hydroflex trains and the trains set to be used on HS2.
The Hydroflex trains came an unfortunate last place, completing the 1km in 25.70 seconds, whilst the High Speed 2 trains completed the 1km in 10 seconds exactly, coming a respectful 7th place.
The race was won by Virgin Hyperloop One which completed the race in just 2.9 seconds.
You can watch the race by clicking ‘start the race' on the animation below.
What do you think of the drag races? Let us know in the comments below!
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HS2 came in third slowest. No point in building it then. Eric Laithwaite was my hero.
I would of liked to have seen Nevomo former Hyper Poland trains, it is developing maglev trains that can run on existing lines such as HS1 Eurostar and in the future HS2 at 340 mph, at 620 mph by adding vacuum tubes called hyperrail, and hyperloop trains at 748 mph on new lines with vacuum tubes.
The Shanghai Transrapid is not a train in the conventional sense, so should not be considered. The Hydroflex train is an old commuter emu fitted with an alternative power source, which is not in service, and has only reached around 50mph on test, why are you including this train? The Hyperloop is not a train either, and will most probably never enter commercial service. For any meaningful comparison, you have to compare like with like. The fastest train in the world is the French TGV, which set a world speed record in 2007 of 574kph. Whilst this was achieved on a test run, no other train comes close.
Railbuses date back to the 1930s, these are buses that have train wheels and run on railways, most have been one car trains but they are still called trains, British Rail Pacer trains are railbuses but are two car, WMG Warwick Uni, UK and TDI is developing the Revolution VLR Very Light Rail, this is a one car train, so as single car trains are still called trains therefore hyperloop is one car maglev trains that will run in vacuum tubes.
The World Cup of High Speed trains.
The Shanghai Transrapid features the flag of the PRC but was developed and built by German companies.
We love the low-key UK propaganda for Eurostar e320s when, in fact, they are German-built, operated by a French (+other) company, and (crucially) only actually reach that speed when they’re on the French side. But yeah the lil Union Jack in third place it very cute.