China Sets High-Speed Rail Speed Record

On Tuesday, the Chinese-made new generation of high-speed train called the "Harmony" CRH-380A, hit 258.9 miles (416.6 km) per hour on the Huhang high-speed railway, which runs from Shanghai to Hangzhou, creating a new record as the world's fastest high-speed rail operation speed.

Other high speed trains, notably the French TGV, have reached higher speeds, but in a test, not an operational environment.

The 100-mile Huhang route is currently expected to handle 80,000,000 passenger-trips per year. Currently, China, only at the start of its high-speed rail deployment, has 4,400 miles (7,055 km) of operating track, which leads the world.