March 31, 1901: Wuppertal Monorail Opens1901: A suspended monorail opens in Germany, whisking
passengers on an 8.3-mile loop some 40 feet over the Wupper River.
Though not the world’s first single-track hanging rail system, it’s the
world’s oldest monorail still in operation and Europe’s only suspended
railway.
The April 1999
accident that resulted in the death of 5 people, the only such incident
in the history of Wuppertaler Schwebebahn
Two bullet trains glided silently out of a glossy new station to
inaugurate China's latest high speed rail line, as officials boasted of
setting world records using domestic technology. 
The China-made CRH380 train has been clocked at almost 420 kilometers
per hour, a world speed record, though it will usually operate at a
maximum speed of 350 kmph. China aims to have 13,000 kilometers of high
speed rail in operation by 2012. 
Railway officials recently announced they were working on technology to boost speeds to over 500 kmph. 
Faster than a speeding bullet train ... Japan is testing a maglev
(magnetic levitation) train capable of reaching speeds up to 581 km/h.
Japan is resuming trial runs for the world's fastest magnetic-levitation
train that will complement the Shinkansen bullet-train network when
ready in 2027.
Starting the list is the famous M-497 Black Beetle, an experimental
train built by the New York City Railroad Corporation in 1966. The Black
Beetle was mostly an amalgamated creation, being one part Budd Rail
Diesel Car and two parts jet engine. This monster was then sent on test
runs which proved to be largely successful, reaching speeds as fast as
184 mph. Unfortunately, it was deemed unfit for commercial purposes and
the project was scrapped. Today, the M-497 still holds an unbroken speed
China has recently revealed pictures of its high speed test train which
has capability to travels 310 miles (500 kilo meters) per hour. This is
the fastest train in the world. The design of this train resembles
shape of ancient Chinese sword.
Train consists of six cars reinforced with carbon fiber. With maximum
tractive power of 22,800...
Japan's Maglev train leaves the platform for a test run on an
experimental track in Tsuru on May 11, 2010. US Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood took a test ride on Japan's super-fast magnetic train that
day, but President Obama's high-speed rail plans have largely fallen
through since then.
A Japanese railway company this month unveiled a prototype for a
commercial passenger train that it says can reach speeds of 310 miles
per hour via magnetic levitation. According to the
Asahi Shimbun, the plan is for the floating train to begin
zipping commuters from Tokyo to Nagoya in 2027.
At that speed it could make the 200-mile trip in under 45 minutes, less
than half the time it takes today on Japan's already-zippy bullet
trains.
French engineering firm Alstom unveiled its successor the the TGV today,
the AGV. Standing for Automotrice Grande Vitesse, the train, which
boasts an individual engine beneath each carriage, can travel at speeds
of up to 223mph, or 360kph. Up to 700 passengers can be transported at a
time, and less fuel is used, as the AGV is lighter than its elder
sister and consumes up to 30 per cent less energy. More info below the
gallery.
Travel by Japan's Shinkansen Bullet Train is not cheap. For locals, the
average round trip ticket between Tokyo and everyone's favorite ancient
capitol, Kyoto, is 27,000 yen ($270). Ouch. There are however, sweet
deals available only for foreign visitors.
