Map Shows Which Countries Have High-Speed Rail

High-speed rail (HSR) systems have become a significant component of transportation infrastructure in many countries around the world, offering fast and efficient alternatives to air and road travel. Several countries have made substantial investments in these systems, with notable advancements in the U.S., China, and India.

Newsweek has mapped high-speed rail systems around the world, drawing on data from the International Union of Railways, supplemented with additional sources.

China continues to lead the world in high-speed rail development, boasting the largest network globally with over 40,000 kilometers (24,855 miles) of operational high-speed rail lines, according to a 2023 report from the International Railway Union.

China’s network is not only vast but also operates some of the world’s fastest trains.

China’s high-speed rail lines connect most major cities, including the iconic routes between Beijing and Shanghai, and Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

The country has made high-speed rail a central part of its transportation infrastructure, significantly reducing travel times across its vast territory. The expansion of this network is a key element of China’s wider infrastructure efforts, both domestically and as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, which includes funding and constructing HSR projects in other countries.

India’s high-speed rail ambitions have also begun to take shape with the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, the country’s first HSR project. This line, which is expected to be completed by 2028, will span 508 kilometers (316 miles) and allow trains to reach speeds of up to 320 kph (200 mph). The project is partly funded by Japan, which has provided technical and financial assistance to ensure its successful implementation.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad line marks a significant shift in India’s transportation infrastructure, aiming to provide a faster and more efficient alternative to road and conventional rail travel. India’s plans for high-speed rail include additional corridors that will connect major cities across the country, potentially transforming how people travel and do business in the region.

In the United States, the development of high-speed rail has been relatively slow compared to other countries, though multiple high-speed rail projects are in various stages of completion.

In June, designs were revealed for four new stations on the much-awaited California High-Speed Rail line: Merced, Bakersfield, Fresno and Kings Tulare.

The first lines for the high-speed rail project are currently scheduled to become operable between 2030 and 2033.

Work is also underway on the Brightline West high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California, a line that hopes to reach speeds of 186 mph, which would make it comparable with the Japanese Shinkansen.

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