Japan is developing the world’s fastest train, the L0 Series maglev, built by Central Japan Railway Company. During testing, the train has reached speeds of up to 603.5km/h, far exceeding the current commercial record held by China’s Shanghai Maglev at 460km/h. By comparison, Europe’s fastest high-speed services, such as France’s TGV and Italy’s Italo, operate at around 300–350km/h.
The L0 Series will run on the new Chūō Shinkansen line and is expected to cut travel time between Tokyo and Nagoya to about 40 minutes, with a future extension to Osaka reducing Tokyo–Osaka journeys to roughly one hour. The project relies on magnetic levitation, lifting trains above the track to eliminate friction and allow extreme speeds.
However, the ambition comes at a cost. The project has already reached around £52bn (€60bn), is heavily tunnel-dependent, and has been delayed from its original 2027 target to 2034–35.
As for Europe, experts are sceptical. Maglev trains require entirely new infrastructure, consume more power, carry fewer passengers than conventional high-speed trains, and clash with Europe’s preference for comfort, capacity and scenic travel over ultra-fast point-to-point journeys. Outside a few dense business corridors, the L0 Series is unlikely to be a practical fit for the European rail network.
