China is set to open a 2,298-km high-speed railway line, the world’s longest, in about two weeks, linking the capital city with the country’s trading hub of Guangzhou.
According to the Ministry of Railways (MOR), the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway will open on December 26, the birth anniversary of late Chairman Mao Zedong.
CRH380 (China Railway High-speed) Harmony bullet trains are seen at a high-speed train maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province.
HEMU-400X
Design speed: 400 km/h
Operating speed: N/A
Start of service: 2014
Operator: Korail, South Korea
Global rank: 1
CRH380 D & DL
Design speed: 380 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2012
Operator: Ministry of Railways, China
Global rank: 2
CRH380 B, BL & CL
Design speed: 380 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2011
Operator: Ministry of Railways, China
Global rank: 3
CRH380 D & DL
Design speed: 380 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2012
Operator: Ministry of Railways, China
Global rank: 4
Avril
Design speed: 380 km/h
Operating speed: N/A
Start of service: 2012
Operator: Renfe, Spain
Global rank: 5
Italo ETR 575
Design speed: 360 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2011
Operator: NTV, Italy
Global rank: 6
ETR 1000
Design speed: 360 km/h
Operating speed: N/A
Start of service: 2013
Operator: NTV, Italy
Global rank: 7
AVE Class 103
Design speed: 350 km/h
Operating speed: 310 km/h
Start of service: 2006
Operator: Renfe, Spain
Global rank: 8
CRH2 C
Design speed: 350 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2008
Operator: Ministry of Railways, China
Global rank: 9
CRH3 C
Design speed: 350 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2008
Operator: Ministry of Railways, China
Global rank: 10
AVE Class 102 – 112
Design speed: 330 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2005
Operator: Renfe, Spain
Global rank: 11
KTX-I
Design speed: 330 km/h
Operating speed: 305 km/h
Start of service: 2004
Operator: Korail, South Korea
Global rank: 12
KTX-II
Design speed: 330 km/h
Operating speed: 305 km/h
Start of service: 2010
Operator: Korail, South Korea
Global rank: 13
Eurostar e320
Design speed: 320 km/h
Operating speed: N/A
Start of service: 2014
Operator: SNCF and Eurostar, Europe
Global rank: 14
ICE 3 DB Class 407
Design speed: 320 km/h
Operating speed: 320 km/h
Start of service: 2011
Operator: DB, Germany
Global rank: 15
Shinkansen 500
Design speed: 320 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 1997
Operator: JR West, Japan
Global rank: 16
Shinkansen E5
Design speed: 320 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2011
Operator: JR West, Japan
Global rank: 17
Shinkansen E6
Design speed: 320 km/h
Operating speed: N/A
Start of service: 2013
Operator: JR West, Japan
Global rank: 18
TGV Reseau Thalys PBA
Design speed: 320 km/h
Operating speed: 320 km/h
Start of service: 1991
Operator: Thalys, SNCF, Europe
Global rank: 19
TGV POS
Design speed: 320 km/h
Operating speed: 320 km/h
Start of service: 2008
Operator: SNCF, France
Global rank: 20
AVE Class 100
Design speed: 300 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 1992
Operator: Renfe, Spain
Global rank: 21
ETR 500 3 kV
Design speed: 300 km/h
Operating speed: 250 km/h
Start of service: 1992-2007
Operator: Trenitalia, Italy
Global rank: 22
Eurostar
Design speed: 300 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 1993
Operator: Eurostar, SNCF, Europe
Global rank: 23
TGV Sud-Est
Design speed: 300 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 1981
Operator: SNCF, France
Global rank: 24
TGV Atlantique
Design speed: 300 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 1989
Operator: SNCF, France
Global rank: 25
Thalys PBKA
Design speed: 300 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 1997
Operator: Thalys, Europe
Global rank: 26
THSR 700T
Design speed: 300 km/h
Operating speed: 300 km/h
Start of service: 2007
Operator: THSR, Taiwan
Global rank: 27