Japanese Train Breaks Speed Record

Japan has held the record for the fastest train in the world since 2003, which at the time was at a speed of 581 kilometers per hour (361 miles per hour).

The new record was set at 590 kilometers per hour (366 miles per hour) on a test track, unlike traditional trains, maglev trains work by using magnets to push the train away from the tracks and drive the train forward.

The fastest train in the United States, Amtrak’s Acela Express, is only capable of 241 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour), though it usually coasts along at half that speed.

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