China's Latest Record

11 Dec 2010 - Yes, it's another world record from China. A passenger train hit a record speed of 486 km per hour on Friday during a test run of an unopened link between Beijing and Shanghai, state media reported. The Xinhua News agency said it was the fastest speed recorded by an unmodified conventional commercial train. Other types of trains elsewhere have traveled faster. A specially-modified French TGV train reached 574 kmph during a 2007 test., while a Japanese magnetically levitated train sped up to 581 kmph in 2003. State TV showed the sleek white train whipping past green farm fields in eastern China. It reached the top speed on a segment of 1318 km long line between Zhaozhuang city in Shandong province and Bengbu city in Anhui. The line is due to open in 2012 and will halve the current travel time between Beijing and Shanghai to five hours. The project is part of a massive effort to link many of China's cities by high-speed rail and reduce overcrowding on heavily used other lines.