What was the top test speed of China’s CRH380A high-speed train in 2010?

China’s CRH380A high-speed train reached a top test speed of 486.1 km/h in 2010.

The run took place on the Shanghai–Hangzhou high-speed railway during testing on 30 September 2010. CRH380A was developed in China for commercial high-speed service and formed part of the country’s large CRH train family.

The number 380 in the train’s name refers to its intended speed class rather than this test record. Test speeds are higher than normal passenger-service speeds because they are used to evaluate performance margins, stability, braking, and equipment.

The 486.1 km/h result is often confused with the Shanghai maglev’s regular public-service speed or with later experimental records. CRH380A was a conventional wheel-on-rail train, so its test run belongs to a different category from magnetic-levitation records.