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As for maximum speed, trains can typically reach speeds of up to 140 mph (225 km/h), although some high-speed services are capable of much higher speeds. On average speed, trains travel at an average speed between 50 and 100 mph (80 and 160 km/h). It depends on factors such as route length and type of train.
The commonly cited figure of around 80 mph for average train speed paints a clearer picture. This isn’t a reflection of the train’s maximum speed – many trains are designed for speeds well in excess of this – but rather its average speed across an entire journey.
Trains typically travel at speeds ranging from 30 to 300 miles per hour, depending on the type of train and the railway system. Conventional commuter trains usually operate between 30 to 60 miles per hour.
The average speed at which trains in the UK travel is between 60 and 65 mph (between 95 and 105 km/h). On main lines they can reach a speed of 130 mph (210 km/h).
In fact, the current record for a conventional wheel passenger train is held by the French TGV. It achieve a mind-boggling 574.8 kilometers per hour (357.2 miles per hour) in 2007. However, while these speeds are impressive, they don’t represent the “average” train speed worldwide.
Today, the average speed of a shinkansen train is around 224 km/h (139 mph). The fastest shinkansen train, the “Nozomi,” can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph).
Practical speed limit is currently at 400 km/h, or maybe higher. The economic speed limit is 350 km/h, which is the highest speed in operated services. Higher speeds would require huge additional traction effort, which is not economic to operate at this day and age.
Learn about the definition, factors affecting, and calculation of the average speed of a train. Discover ways to improve train speed and its impact on travel.
Trying to pinpoint a “normal” speed requires understanding the vast spectrum of rail travel. At the slower end of the spectrum, we find local commuter trains. These workhorses of urban transit often chug along at speeds between 30 and 60 kilometers per hour (kph), or roughly 20 to 40 miles per hour (mph).
The average speed of an intermodal train is 31.7km/h, a conventional train has an even lower average. Anyone who hears this for the first time is rather surprised.