Japan is developing the L0 Series, a magnetic-levitation train designed to reach speeds of up to 603.5km/h, making it the fastest train ever built. The project is being led by Central Japan Railway Company and will run on the new Chūō Shinkansen line.
If completed, the L0 Series would cut travel times dramatically: Tokyo to Nagoya in about 40 minutes, and eventually Tokyo to Osaka in roughly one hour. By comparison, Europe’s fastest services — such as France’s TGV and Italy’s AGV Italo — operate at around 300–350km/h.
The speed comes from maglev technology, which lifts the train above the track using magnets, eliminating friction. But the ambition comes at a cost. The project has already reached roughly £52bn (€60bn), and its opening has been delayed from 2027 to around 2034–35.
As for Europe, experts say it would be difficult to replicate. Maglev trains need entirely new infrastructure, mostly underground tunnels, cannot use existing rail lines, consume more power, and carry fewer passengers than conventional high-speed trains. Combined with Europe’s emphasis on comfort, scenery and cost efficiency, the L0 Series is unlikely to appear outside Japan anytime soon.
