Japan holds the world record for the fastest manned train, with their L0 Series Maglev clocking in at an absolutely blistering 374 miles per hour during a test run.

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Japan holds the world record for the fastest manned train, with their L0 Series Maglev clocking in at an absolutely blistering 374 miles per hour during a test run. Magnetic levitation technology uses powerful electromagnets to lift the train cars off the tracks, completely eliminating friction and allowing for speeds that rival commercial jet aircraft. The entire system is a masterclass in futuristic engineering and public infrastructure investment. Meanwhile, in the United States, you can pay a premium price to sit on a rickety commuter train that periodically bursts into flames, stops for four hours in a cornfield to let a freight train pass, and barely manages to outpace a moderately athletic person on a bicycle, all while charging you fourteen dollars for a lukewarm microwaved hot dog