Favorite High Speed Train

Just a little fun question apart from all the other things going on in this forum: What is your favorite high speed train? Can be from anywhere in the world in any timeline.

Mine goes to the Class 390 as I love its combination of speed, innovation, sleek design, and of course that tilting feature. With an impressive top speed of 140 mph (225km/h) I really enjoy watching videos about this train and driving or riding as a passenger in it myself!

 

For me it's got to be the class 43 HST I love it in the BR blue/grey Intercity 125 livery

 

Cant go wrong with the original "High Speed" service

 

Oh what a beauty that is

 

There are some in my mind, like: Germany's ICE1 ,Japan's Shinkansen series. Italy's ETR1000 Frecciarossa.

But my favorite is probably the ETR 450 - 490 Series Pendolinos. Great looking, a decent high-speed train, although with their rattling problem was not favorable to ride on.
But with the Refurbished ETR 470 in Greece, I can say it feels enjoyable to ride on.

 

Either Mallard (I think it is a shame we didn't get this instead of the Flying Scotsman)

or the Eurostar e300

 

Frecciarossa 1000 first because is the flagship train of my country, in game TGV, Javelin, all ICE versions, the Azuma (specially the 800 GWR) Pendolino (we need the virgin livery)

 

In terms of what we have in TSW, got to be the VP185 HST on MML.
Though interested to see how the GWR HST has been improved for the makeover, especially as we will be able to run with the doors open.
Quite partial to the German ICE's.
Runner up and surprised to hear me say this, is the ECML Class 801 Azuma.

 

Mine is quite close although I think I prefer Intercity Swallow livery. And the sound from the Valenta engines is something so great, I truly wish we had one with this spec in TSW.

 

Oooh yeah that takes me back to the 90s being on holiday in Dawish and watching them come through! *chef kiss* would love to have one in TSW shame I don't have the money or space in my garage for the real thing lol

 

For me it’s got to be the UK’s last high speed train, the mighty InterCity 225. I live on the ECML, and my high-school was located beside it, so there was plenty of times during the lessons when everything was quiet and then you heard the cooling fans in the distance as they flew past, sadly, they no longer run north of York anymore.

 

I have to go with the US on this one. The Acela

 

Good old and more or less reliable ICE 3

 

Has to be the Br 412 "ICE 4".
Looks and sounds amazing.

My favourite thing about it is the PZB acknowledge sound.
Cant wait till we get that one in Tsw.

 

In my opinion, this has to be on this list too:

 

Ditto. Altho I have more miles on my Acela from driving it up and down LGV Mediterranee than driving on the US routes.

 

This one:



And a close second:

 

Pennsylvania T-1; 120mph+ in revenue service. On steam.

 

Ah yes the staple of high speed trains in the US. It's sad to think these are gonna be getting replaced by the Avelia Liberty at some point.

 

I second that.

 

TGV TMST and also the NOL ones when it ran in the Hexagon:


TGV PSE my childhood train:


BB 9003-9004, considered as high speed train when it broke the world speed record of 331 kph:


ICE V, I don’t know how to explain, I really like its design:


HST 125 especially those with its lovely Valenta engines:

 

Has to be ones I've ridden on which would be (in no particular order).
HSTs (All 3 engine types, Valenta, VP185 and MTU)
IC225
E300 aka Class 373 GNER White Rose sets which ran on the ECML between KX and York/Leeds from 2000 - 2005. These were fantastic units. Even in standard class seats it felt like you were travelling first class.

I did ride on a WCML Virgin high speed unit in July 2000 between Preston and Penrith (outward) and Penrith and Manchester (return) but I didn't pay attention to what was pulling the train.

 

a very underated train among foreigner but its popular among japan.

And no train will ever top this from my favorite train of all time.

 

in general probably ICE3, thats what I imagine when someone mentions highspeed train or bullet train... also TGV Duplex, the idea of a dosto elephant blasting by at over 300 kph is very appealing ... but currently I am also big on RailJet as a thing... I mean, push-pull flying at 230 kph is kinda nice

 

ICE3neo (408) or SBB giruno (RABe 501)

 

The Thalys' PBKA (Paris-Brussels-Köln-Amsterdam) is probably the one with the most goergous and vibrant livery:
And the TGV POS, with it's almost full-silver livery just looks amazing (And 2007 speed record holder too !)

 

speaking of Giruno-s, Westbahn has recently announced they will be getting similar trains for Wien - Villach route that will also run utilizing the freshly done Koralmbahn route (now only undergoing finishing touches, should be fully open by the end of this year):

and they look gorgeous

 

No.1 - Original BR Blue HST 125
No.2 - IC 225 (Original IC livery) aka Class 91 & DVT set
No.3 - ICE 3
No.4 - Although short lived, I think I have to include the APT

 

Does the ICE1 count?

 

Here's my Top 3:

ETR 400(1000) Frecciarossa (old livery) Max Speed: 300km/h/186mph(capable of 400km/h/248mph).


ETR 250 Pendolino (the original Pendolino!) Max speed 250km/h/155mph.


TGV-PSE (original 80s version) Max speed 300km/h/125mph.
Note of merit: Spanish Talgo convoys !

 

For me its between two.
Class 43 HST or Class 373 Eurostar.

 

I'll go with E4 Max in the original yellow stripe livery.

 

Class 43 for me. I remember my excitement when I was around 10 and my Dad took me on one from Reading to Taunton. One of the most exciting days of my life haha

 

Got to be Stephenson's Rocket, because for it's time it was a literal rocket, people thought that they could actually die from travelling at those unholy face melting speeds.......

 

Great question. I tend to be partial to loco vs MUs and the French TGVs would probably my fav, with the Acela included.

 

I seem to keep coming back to the Acela in game. Something about its shape and sound that just grabs me.

 

I like TGV and Eurostar, but as I was born and raised in Korea, I encountered KTX more, so KTX is more attractive

 

Shinkanzen N700. It has 300 kp/h topspeed and tilting technology. I think it's the most advanced conventional highspeed train. And the bullet train design is impressive and unique.

Not to forget Japan had the first highspeed network in the world. No other country had Highspeed trains in normal passenger service, that reaches 210 kph at the beginning of the the 1960's.

So because all of that the japanese high speed network is the high speed network I miss most in TSW.

 

Gotta be the good old HST, My favourite livery being the Intercity swallow livery.

 

I've got a soft spot for the TGV RD, a pointier yet chonkier take on French twin deck high speed.



Those were introduced at the same time as TGV POS, reusing Réseau power cars with new Duplex rakes (while the POS were built by reusing the freed Réseau rakes coupled to the new POS power cars able to run under German 15kV).

 

500 Series Shinkansen
Reason: 1. The most beautiful and iconic Shinkansen train in my opinion (and many Japanese rail fans)

500 Series Shinkansen on San'yō Shinkansen ( A HSR linking Osaka and Fukuoka)
2. Its special liveries

500 Series in EVA (New Century Evangelion) livery

500 Series in Hello Kitty livery

 

The BR363. It goes fast enough for me ...