Chronology
SR : Official World Speed Record (for wheeled conventional train).
MS : Maximum operated speed (for wheeled conventional train).
Speed record Increase commercial speed High-speed related disaster
| Date | Country | SR | MS | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1804 | UK | 8 km/h | - | The world's first railway steam locomotive runs at 8 km/h (5 mph) |
| 1830 | UK | 96 km/h | - | The Stephenson's Rocket, first modern locomotive, reaches 96 km/h. |
| 1895 | UK | 108 km/h | - | Average speed of 108.0 km/h between Crewe and Carlisle, by the LNWR Improved Precedent Class |
| 1903 | Germany | 210 km/h | - | An electric multiple unit "AEG Drehstrom-Triebwagen" prototype reaches 210.2 km/h during an experimental test trip. |
| 1931 | Germany | 230 km/h | - | The propeller-propelled "Schienenzeppelin" reaches 230.2 km/h (143 mph) on the Berlin - Hamburg line during a test. |
| 1933 | Germany | - | 160 km/h | The conventional train diesel-powered "Fliegender Hamburger" establishes the fastest regular service in the world, reaching 160 km/h during its journey, between Berlin and Hamburg. |
| 1937 | Italy | - | 160 km/h | The electric multiple unit "ETR 200" designed for 200 km/h, begin its commercial service at 160 km/h between Bologna and Naples |
| 1954 | France | 243 km/h | - | Conventional wheeled absolute world speed record : the unmodified "Alstom CC 7121" hauling a complete train, reach 243 km/h between Dijon and Beaune. |
| 1955 | France | 331 km/h | - | Conventional wheeled absolute world speed record : the "BB 9004" prototype pulling 3 cars reach 331 km/h on the Dax - Bordeaux classic line. |
| 1959 | Japan | - | - | Beginning of the construction work of the Shinkansen Tōkaidō first part, between Tōkyō and Ōsaka. |
| 1964 | Japan | - | 210 km/h | Inauguration of the Shinkansen Tōkaidō high speed line, for the beginning of Tōkyō's Olympics, with a top speed of 210 km/h. |
| 1965 | France | - | - | The first unconventional hovertrain "Aérotrain" prototype is built. |
| 1965 | Germany | - | - | During the International Transport Fair in Munich, a train hauled by a "DB Class 103" makes a demonstration trip at 200 km/h between Munich and Augsburg. |
| 1967 | France | - | - | Launch of the first commercial service at 200 km/h by a standard train hauled by the SNCF "BB 9200", on the Paris-Toulouse national line. |
| 1969 | France | - | - | The Aerotrain 02 prototype reaches 422 km/h on its experimental track. |
| 1969 | Italy | - | - | The construction work of the first European high-speed line, the Direttissima, begins between Roma and Florence. |
| 1971 | Germany | - | - | One of the first maglev trains, the Transrapid 02, reach 164 km/h. |
| 1971 | France | - | - | The first TGV 001 prototype is built, powered by two airplane gas turbines, and runs up to 318 km/h. |
| 1973 | - | - | Oil shock, with increasing oil prices. This will be a key for future electric high-speed rail. | |
| 1973 | UK | - | - | The unconventional hovercraft "RTV 31" prototype, reaches 167 km/h on a 1 mile experimental track. |
| 1974 | France | - | - | The jet powered Aérotrain I80 HV prototype holds the world speed record for unconventional trains, with a top speed of 430.2 km/h during a test trip. |
| 1977 | Italy | - | 220 km/h | Inauguration of the first European high-speed line, the "Florence–Rome" HSL "Direttissima", at 220 km/h (ready for 250) |
| 1977 | Germany | - | - | Raising of the speed to 200 km/h in Germany, on the Munich-Augsburg line. |
| 1979 | Japan | - | - | The experimental unconventional maglev train "JR-Maglev ML-500R" reach 517 km/h on Miyazaki Maglev Test Track. |
| 1981 | France | 380 km/h | - | Absolute world speed record record for a "TGV PSE" on the new "LGV Sud-Est" high-speed line, at 380 km/h |
| 1981 | France | - | 260 km/h | Inauguration of the "LGV Paris-Sud-Est" high-speed line between Paris and Lyon, with a top speed of 260 km/h. |
| 1982 | France | - | 270 km/h | Raising of maximum speed of "LGV Sud-Est" to 270 km/h. |
| 1984 | Japan | - | - | Raising of maximum speed of Shinkansen to 230 km/h for "100 serie". |
| 1988 | Germany | 406 km/h | - | Absolute world speed record Record for the DB "ICE-V" prototype reaching 406.9 km/h on the new "Hanover – Würtzburg" high-speed line. |
| 1989 | Italy | - | - | Introduction of the Pendolino in commercial service between Rome and Milan, reaching 250 km/h. |
| 1989 | Japan | - | - | Raising of maximum speed of Shinkansen to 270 km/h for "300 serie". |
| 1989 | France | - | 300 km/h | Inauguration of the "LGV Atlantique" high-speed line, first line at 300 km/h in the world. |
| 1990 | France | 515 km/h | - | Absolute world speed record by a tuned "TGV Atlantique", with a top speed of 515.3 km/h on the new "LGV Atlantique" |
| 1991 | Germany | - | - | Inauguration of the first German high-speed service, the Intercity-Express on the Hanover-Würtzburg HSL, with a top speed of 280 km/h. |
| 1994 | - | - | Inauguration of the Channel Tunnel, between UK and France, and used by Eurostar TGV. | |
| 1994 | Spain | - | - | The AVE high-speed rail service begins operation at 300 km/h on the new Madrid–Seville high-speed line. |
| 1995 | Japan | - | - | Raising of maximum speed of the Shinkansen to 300 km/h for the "500 serie". |
| 1998 | Germany | - | - | Eschede train disaster |
| 2000 | USA | - | - | The first high-speed rail service in USA, the Acela Express begins its operation between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., reaching 240 km/h |
| 2003 | Japan | - | - | The experimental unconventional maglev "JR-Maglev MLX01" sets the absolute world speed record at 581 km/h. |
| 2004 | China | - | - | Inauguration of the first commercial maglev line, the Shanghai Maglev Train. |
| 2006 | Germany | - | - | Lathen train collision when a Transrapid maglev train collided with a maintenance vehicle |
| 2007 | France | 574 km/h | - | Absolute world speed record by a tuned "TGV POS", with a top speed of 574.8 km/h on the new "LGV Est" high-speed line |
| 2007 | France | - | 320 km/h | Inauguration of the "LGV Est" high-speed line, first line at 320 km/h, and current fastest line in the World. |
| 2008 | China | - | 350 km/h | Opening of the "Wuhan – Guangzhou" high speed line, first line at 350 km/h (during 3 years) |
| 2011 | China | - | 320 km/h | Wenzhou disaster, lowering to 300 km/h of maximum speed in China. |
Read more about this topic: High-speed Rail