Japan is developing the L0 Series, a magnetic-levitation (maglev) train by Central Japan Railway Company, designed to reach speeds of up to 603.5km/h, making it the fastest train ever built. That is far quicker than China’s Shanghai Maglev (460km/h) and well ahead of Europe’s fastest services, such as France’s TGV or Italy’s Italo (around 300–350km/h).
The L0 Series will run on the new Chuo Shinkansen line, cutting the journey between Tokyo and Nagoya to about 40 minutes, and eventually linking Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka into a single high-speed corridor. Tokyo to Osaka could take just one hour, compared with more than two hours today.
The speed comes from maglev technology, which uses powerful magnets to lift the train above the track, eliminating friction and allowing extreme acceleration. But the project is costly: estimates have already reached about £52bn (€60bn), and delays mean it is now unlikely to open before 2034–35.
Could Europe adopt something similar? Experts are sceptical. Maglev trains need entirely new, dedicated infrastructure, much of it in tunnels, and consume far more power than conventional high-speed rail. They also carry fewer passengers, making it harder to justify the investment. In addition, European rail markets often value comfort, scenery and network integration as much as raw speed.
While maglev could make sense on short, business-heavy routes such as London–Paris, the scale, cost and energy demands mean Japan’s record-breaking train is unlikely to appear on European tracks any time soon.
