How Fast Is 300 km/h?
300 km/h is the cruising speed of the world's fastest bullet trains. Here's what that speed means in mph, m/s, and practical comparisons.
300 km/h equals approximately 186.4 mph (miles per hour), 83.3 m/s (metres per second), or 162 knots. This is the normal cruising speed of France's TGV and Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains.
- 300 km/h = 186.4 mph
- 300 km/h = 83.3 m/s
- 300 km/h = 162 knots
- Cruising speed of TGV, Shinkansen, ICE
300 km/h in mph
Miles per hour
300 km/h in m/s
Metres per second
300 km/h in knots
Nautical speed
Distance per minute
300 km/h = 5 km every minute
What 300 km/h Feels Like
At 300 km/h, a high-speed train covers 5 km every minute — or 83 metres every second. Despite this extraordinary speed, passengers experience a remarkably smooth ride.
Compared to a car
A car on the motorway travels at about 120 km/h. At 300 km/h, a bullet train is 2.5× faster. In the time a car covers 10 km, the train covers 25 km.
Compared to a plane
A commercial jet cruises at about 900 km/h — 3× faster than a bullet train. But airport time often makes trains competitive for journeys under 800 km.
Passenger experience
Modern high-speed trains at 300 km/h feel surprisingly quiet and smooth. Active suspension, aerodynamic sealing, and precision track reduce vibration to barely perceptible levels.
Trains That Cruise at 300 km/h
Several train services worldwide operate at or near 300 km/h as their standard cruising speed.
TGV (France)
300–320 km/h on LGV (Ligne à Grande Vitesse) dedicated high-speed lines.
Shinkansen (Japan)
285–320 km/h depending on the line (Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku, Kyushu).
ICE 3 (Germany)
300 km/h on Neubaustrecke (NBS) high-speed lines like Cologne–Frankfurt.
AVE (Spain)
300 km/h on Madrid–Barcelona and other AVE high-speed routes.
Eurostar (UK/EU)
300 km/h through the Channel Tunnel route between London and Paris/Brussels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Train Speed Resources
Test Your Train Speed Now
Open on your phone, grant GPS access, and see your exact train speed instantly. No app required.
Works on iPhone, Android & any modern browser · Always free