574.8kph (356 mph). The previous TGV record was 515kph (320mph), set in 1990. The absolute train speed record was set by a Japanese magnetic levitation train is 581km/h (361mph) set in 2003.

See a video of the train here

That is fast! Faster than most single propeller planes such as the cessna 421 which has a top speed of 478/kph (297 mph) and within reach of some jets flying at around 600 kph (373 mph).

Fast trains are a viable alternative to flying. They require a lot less security checks and train stations are usually located downtown, not 50 miles out in the burbs. Any flights of less than 3 hours can be advantageously substituted by a ride on a TGV.

The only speed limitation for trains seems to be the stability of the tracks and wind resistance. Maglev trains have even less of a limitation with the track since they hover above it. Air resistance is the main culprit here, that is why jets fly at high altitude where the air is thinner.

In the future, we may use rapid trains for short distances, supersonic jets for cross continental flights (NY-LA) and hypersonic planes for intercontinental flights such as New-York to Tokyo in about an hour.

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