World's top 10 fastest trains pushing the limits of speed on tracks

The article highlights the world’s top 10 fastest trains as of 2025, emphasizing their groundbreaking speeds and technological innovations that are reshaping rail travel globally. Leading the list is France’s TGV POS/Euroduplex family, which holds the steel-wheel speed record at 575 km/h (357 mph) achieved during a 2007 test and operates efficiently across multiple European countries with advanced power systems. Japan’s JR SCMaglev L0 Series, although not yet in commercial service, promises to become the fastest train upon its 2034 launch, with a commercial speed of 505 km/h (314 mph) and a record crewed speed of 603 km/h (374 mph), drastically cutting travel time between Tokyo and Osaka. China features prominently with several entries: the Shanghai Maglev, the fastest commercial maglev at 460 km/h (286 mph); the CR450 Fuxing prototype targeting a 450 km/h design speed and expected operational debut around 2026-202