The Essentials

Highest-Speed Trains

The next time you’re sitting on a delayed–and slow– Amtrak train, consider some really high speed trains around the world.

And what’s the fastest commercially operating train?

It’s China’s Shanghai Maglev, which clocks in at a staggering 267 mph. It goes from the airport to downtown or a distance of 19 miles in seven minutes.

Japan is celebrating the 54th year of the bullet train. It’s hard to believe they started operating in 1964. This train speeds at 224 mph.

And there are now high -speed trains in Italy to compete with France’s TGV. Italy’s high-speed trains are all 200 mph and up.