Bullet trains in China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia regularly approach 200 miles per hour. Some of the fastest trains in the world — called Maglev trains — use a special technology known as magnetic levitation.

A very fast train is generically called a High-Speed Train (HST), but in 2026, they are best known by their regional "brand" names. In Japan, it is the Shinkansen (or "Bullet Train"). In France, it is the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). In China, the world's fastest commercial trains are the Fuxing and Hexie models. A supportive peer "tech" distinction: you should also know about Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) trains, like the one in Shanghai, which can reach 267 mph (430 km/h) by "floating" above the tracks. In Italy, look for the Frecciarossa ("Red Arrow"), and in Germany, the ICE (Intercity-Express). These trains are defined as "high-speed" if they operate at least 155 mph (250 km/h) on dedicated tracks. In 2026, new "next-gen" models are pushing commercial speeds toward 220 mph (350 km/h), making rail travel a faster and greener alternative to short-haul flying across Europe and Asia.