Booming economies, urban sprawl and climate change have all led to the rise of trains, busses and car-hailing apps in recent years. Where once they were unreliable alternatives to cars, they are now commonplace. Here are some of the world’s fastest high-speed trains.
GOL ACERAMAULT, ROMANIA
Each train reaches a top speed of 357kmh (218mph), but crews can reach a record 317kmh when they switch from diesel to electric engines.
AMGEN SCALIA, ARGENTINA
The nation’s longest rail route, the 774km South American region Saccamara to Cordoba line, sees speeds of up to 259kmh on the Altiplano, which snakes between Cordoba and Teruel, but the fastest sustained time is 322kmh on the Guarani line.
JFRS RIDESAM, JAPAN
Japan’s ultra-fast trains blow current world records out of the water, reaching 261kmh on the JR Tokai, travelling between Tokyo and Osaka in one hour and 55 minutes. At 262kmh it comes second.
KOROBIAN RAILWAY COMMISSION SIKO, ITALY
The Soko line clocked a world record of up to 264kmh, but it had only been testing the 225kmh Soko Indicana for four years.
IAER SASKARSKI, SPAIN
The best known is the 357km/h Aena Supra Super Express train, but the newer Iberia Sirocco, with a top speed of 259kmh, keeps with the business of rolling on steam as closely as possible.
