Japan is developing the L0 Series, a magnetic-levitation (maglev) train expected to reach speeds of up to 603.5 km/h, making it the fastest train in the world. The project is led by Central Japan Railway Company, and would far exceed the current commercial record held by China’s Shanghai Maglev at 460 km/h.
The L0 Series will operate on the new Chuo Shinkansen, cutting travel time between Tokyo and Nagoya to about 40 minutes, and eventually linking Osaka in roughly one hour. For comparison, Europe’s fastest trains – such as France’s TGV and Italy’s AGV Italo – operate at around 300–350 km/h.
The speed comes from maglev technology, which uses powerful magnets to lift the train above the track, reducing friction and allowing extreme acceleration. However, the project is expensive, costing an estimated £52bn (€60bn) so far, and has been delayed from its original 2027 target to around 2034–35.
Bringing such a train to Europe would be difficult. The L0 Series cannot run on existing rail lines, requires extensive tunnelling, consumes far more power than conventional trains, and carries fewer passengers. European rail markets also place greater emphasis on comfort, scenery and mixed-use travel, making ultra-high-speed maglev more viable only on select business routes rather than across the wider network.
