How Fast Is a Bullet Train in km/h?
Bullet train speeds in km/h — the standard unit used by most of the world's railways. Every major system compared.
Bullet trains operate at 250–350 km/h in regular commercial service. Japan's Shinkansen cruises at 285–320 km/h depending on the line. France's TGV runs at 300–320 km/h. China's Fuxing CR400AF operates at 350 km/h — the fastest scheduled train in the world in km/h.
- Japan Shinkansen: 285–320 km/h (varies by line)
- France TGV: 300–320 km/h (on LGV lines)
- China Fuxing: 350 km/h (Beijing–Shanghai)
- Spain AVE: 300 km/h (Madrid–Barcelona)
China Fuxing CR400AF
Fastest scheduled service
TGV & Shinkansen E5
France & Japan top speed
ICE 3 & AVE
Germany & Spain
TGV test record
World rail speed record
Bullet Train Operating Speeds in km/h
Here are the actual operating speeds — not test records — for every major bullet train system in the world, expressed in km/h.
Japan Shinkansen
Tokaido line (Tokyo–Osaka): 285 km/h. Sanyo line (Osaka–Hakata): 300 km/h. Tohoku line (Tokyo–Shin-Aomori): 320 km/h (E5/E6 series). Hokkaido extension: 260 km/h (temporary speed during construction phase).
France TGV
LGV Sud-Est: 300 km/h. LGV Atlantique: 300 km/h. LGV Méditerranée: 300 km/h. LGV Est: 320 km/h. LGV Rhin-Rhône: 320 km/h. The newest lines allow 320 km/h with TGV Duplex trainsets.
China CRH / Fuxing
Beijing–Shanghai: 350 km/h (Fuxing CR400AF/BF). Beijing–Guangzhou: 300 km/h. Most other HSR lines: 250–300 km/h. China has over 42,000 km of high-speed track.
Other Systems
Spain AVE (Talgo/Velaro): 300 km/h. Germany ICE 3: 300 km/h. Italy Frecciarossa 1000: 300 km/h. South Korea KTX: 305 km/h. Taiwan THSR: 300 km/h. Eurostar e320: 320 km/h.
Test Records vs. Service Speeds in km/h
Test records are achieved under special conditions and are always higher than commercial operating speeds.
TGV V150: 574.8 km/h
Set on April 3, 2007, on the LGV Est with a modified 3-car TGV. Larger wheels, uprated power supply, and ideal track conditions. This remains the world wheel-on-rail record.
CRH380A: 486.1 km/h
China's CRH380A reached this speed on the Beijing–Shanghai line during tests in December 2010. The service speed was subsequently set at 350 km/h.
Shinkansen E5: 320 km/h (service)
The E5 was tested to 360 km/h but entered service at 320 km/h on the Tohoku Shinkansen. Japan prioritizes safety margins and noise reduction.
Converting Bullet Train Speeds
Since this page focuses on km/h, here are quick conversions for common bullet train speeds to help readers familiar with other units.
250 km/h
= 155.3 mph = 69.4 m/s = 135 knots. The entry-level speed for high-speed rail classification on new lines.
300 km/h
= 186.4 mph = 83.3 m/s = 162 knots. The most common bullet train cruising speed worldwide.
320 km/h
= 198.8 mph = 88.9 m/s = 173 knots. The top operating speed for TGV and the newest Shinkansen.
350 km/h
= 217.5 mph = 97.2 m/s = 189 knots. China's Fuxing — the fastest scheduled train in the world.
What Determines a Bullet Train's km/h
Several engineering and policy factors determine the operating speed of each bullet train system.
Track geometry
Curve radius, gradient, and rail quality set the physical speed limit. Newer lines built with 7,000 m+ curve radii can support 350 km/h; older 4,000 m radius lines are limited to 270–300 km/h.
Noise regulations
In Japan, trackside noise limits of 70–75 dB restrict Shinkansen speed through residential areas. This is a key reason the Tokaido line runs at 285 km/h rather than 300+.
Energy economics
Aerodynamic drag rises with speed squared. Running at 350 km/h uses about 36% more energy per km than 300 km/h. Operators balance speed against electricity costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Train Speed Resources
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