How Fast Is a Train in mph?
All train speeds converted to miles per hour — the standard unit in the USA and UK. From local commuter trains to 200+ mph bullet trains.
Train speed in mph ranges from 20–50 mph (commuter/metro) to 155–217 mph (high-speed rail). In the USA, Amtrak's Acela Express reaches 150 mph. In the UK, HS1 trains reach 186 mph. The world's fastest scheduled service runs at 217 mph (350 km/h) in China.
- Metro/subway: 15–40 mph
- Commuter rail: 25–50 mph average
- Intercity (Amtrak, UK): 75–125 mph
- High-speed rail: 155–217 mph
Fastest in service
China Fuxing (350 km/h)
Amtrak Acela top speed
Northeast Corridor
UK InterCity 125
Main line services
World rail record
TGV V150, 2007
Train Speeds in mph by Type
Every category of train converted to miles per hour for easy reference.
Metro / Subway
Top speed: 37–62 mph (60–100 km/h). Average speed including stops: 15–25 mph (25–40 km/h). New York subway trains typically max out at around 34 mph; London Underground at 37–62 mph depending on the line.
Commuter Rail
Top speed: 50–80 mph (80–130 km/h). Average speed: 20–40 mph (30–65 km/h). LIRR, Metro-North, Caltrain, and UK Southern/Southeastern services fall in this range.
Intercity
Top speed: 80–125 mph (130–200 km/h). Amtrak Northeast Regional reaches 125 mph in sections. UK HST (InterCity 125) cruises at 125 mph. German IC trains reach 125 mph.
High-Speed Rail
Top speed: 155–217 mph (250–350 km/h). Amtrak Acela: 150 mph. Eurostar: 186 mph. TGV: 186–199 mph. Shinkansen: 177–199 mph. China Fuxing: 217 mph.
US Train Speeds in mph
For American readers, here are the speeds of trains you're most likely to ride, all in mph.
Amtrak Acela
Maximum speed: 150 mph (241 km/h) in brief sections of the Northeast Corridor between New York and Boston. Average speed including stops: approximately 68 mph over the full route.
Amtrak Northeast Regional
Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h). Average speed: 60–70 mph. Covers New York–Washington in about 3 hours 30 minutes.
Amtrak long-distance
Average speed: 40–55 mph (65–90 km/h). Cross-country routes like the California Zephyr and Empire Builder are limited by freight-railroad track conditions and scheduling.
Commuter rail
Metro-North, LIRR, SEPTA, Metra, and Caltrain typically operate at 30–70 mph with averages of 20–40 mph due to frequent stops.
UK Train Speeds in mph
The UK railway system uses mph as its standard unit. Here are the key speed tiers.
HS1 / Eurostar
186 mph (300 km/h) on the High Speed 1 line from St Pancras through the Channel Tunnel. The UK's only true high-speed railway.
InterCity 125/225
125 mph (200 km/h) on the East Coast, Great Western, and Cross Country main lines. The HST (InterCity 125) has been running since 1976.
Regional and commuter
75–100 mph (120–160 km/h) on main lines. Many secondary routes are limited to 60–75 mph. London suburban services average 20–30 mph.
London Underground
Maximum: 37–62 mph depending on the line. The Metropolitan line is fastest. The Central and Northern lines max at about 34 mph.
Converting km/h to mph
Since most of the world reports train speeds in km/h, knowing the conversion is useful.
The formula
Divide km/h by 1.609 to get mph. Multiply mph by 1.609 to get km/h. Quick rule of thumb: mph is roughly 62% of the km/h figure.
Common conversions
100 km/h = 62 mph. 200 km/h = 124 mph. 300 km/h = 186 mph. 350 km/h = 217 mph. Or use TrainSpeedTest.net's built-in converter for instant results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Train Speed Resources
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