Japan tests world's fastest bullet train

The new version of the Shinkansen bullet train, called ALFA-X, began three years of testing on May 10. Scheduled to enter service in 2030, the train will run at 360 km/h, making it the world's fastest bullet train. The ALFA-X will run 10 km/h faster than China's Fuxing train, although both trains are designed for the same top speed.

The ALFA-X's modern design includes 10 cars and a long, tapered nose. The train will be tested on a 280-kilometer track between the cities of Sendai and Aomori. Test runs will take place after midnight when the track is empty and will be conducted twice a week. The ALFA-X marks a new stage in the development of the Shinkansen bullet train, making the world-famous high-speed rail service even faster.

Another high-speed train, the Shinkansen N700S, was also tested a year ago. It will enter service in 2020, but its top speed is limited to 300 km/h, much lower than the ALFA-X. However, the ALFA-X is still far behind Japan's world record-breaking maglev train, which reached 603 km/h on a test track in 2015.