What speed record, still unbeaten for diesel trains, did Britain's InterCity 125 set in 1987?
Answer
148 mph (238 km/h)
70 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
High-speed train trivia covers the technology, records, routes and famous services that transformed long-distance rail travel. Questions range from the French TGV and Japan’s Tokaido Shinkansen to China’s Beijing–Tianjin line, Spain’s AVE network and India’s Vande Bharat Express.
Expect a mixture of engineering facts and transport history. You may need to recall that Britain’s InterCity 125 set a still-unbeaten diesel-train speed record in 1987, identify the US service that preceded Acela, or know the maximum operating speed of today’s flagship trains. This 70-question collection suits railway enthusiasts, travel fans, pub quizzes, classroom activities and game nights that reward both memory and curiosity.
Answer
148 mph (238 km/h)
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Beijing–Tianjin intercity railway
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150 mph (241 km/h)
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JR Central
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Train à Grande Vitesse
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Ligne à Grande Vitesse
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Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy
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Automotrice à grande vitesse
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421.4 km/h
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Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
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Nagano Shinkansen
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Zuoying
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486.1 km/h
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Akita Shinkansen
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Yamagata Shinkansen
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Hong Kong West Kowloon
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Alfa Pendular
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Shin-Osaka
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Gotthard Base Tunnel
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400 km/h
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320 km/h
Answer
Taiwan High Speed Rail
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1991
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515.3 km/h
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CR400 series
Answer
1981
Good questions can cover speed records, railway companies, opening dates, famous routes, train names and technical abbreviations. Examples include asking what TGV stands for, which company operates the Tokaido Shinkansen, or which Spanish city was linked to Madrid by the first AVE line.
The difficulty ranges from accessible general knowledge to specialist railway history. Most players may recognize the Shinkansen or TGV, while questions about diesel speed records, predecessor services and exact operating speeds require more detailed knowledge. It works well for mixed-ability quizzes because the subject offers several entry points.
TGV stands for “Train à Grande Vitesse,” French for “high-speed train.” The term is used for France’s high-speed rail service and the trainsets operated by SNCF. TGV services became internationally famous for combining dedicated high-speed lines with conventional railway routes, allowing trains to serve city-centre stations.
Amtrak’s Acela Express has a maximum operating speed of 150 mph, or about 241 km/h, on parts of the Northeast Corridor. Its actual speed varies by track section, curves, signalling and infrastructure. The service connects major cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
Central Japan Railway Company, commonly called JR Central or JR Central Railway, operates the Tokaido Shinkansen. The route links Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, making it one of Japan’s busiest high-speed corridors. It opened in 1964 and helped establish the Shinkansen as a global model for fast, frequent rail travel.