The fastest train in the world

The Wuhan-Guangzhou railway

Not a country to do things by halves, China has unveiled the world's fastest train, which also happens to run on the longest track on Earth.

The Wuhan-Guangzhou railway is normally a ten and a half hour journey along the 1,000km line, however the new high-speed train can do the journey in a mere three hours, travelling at speeds of close to 350km/h (over 217 mph).

Not just capable of extreme speeds, the train is also state-of-the-art in terms of comfort offering an incredibly smooth ride. The successful trial of the train has made tickets a much sought-after commodity

The railway has taken four years to build and nearly $16 billion worth of investment. It will open to the public later in the month (20 December), and has already been hailed as a fantastic deal for consumers. In response, airlines have begun to slash their prices in order to not lose business to the railway. Meanwhile, officials are hoping the train will help ease the holiday travel rush at airports and on roadways.

If the Wuhan-Guangzhou railway is a bonafide success, the Chinese government are planning to build another 42 similar high-speed lines over the next three years, covering 13,000km in the country. It would be a significant part of cutting CO2 emissions in the country, which is already suffering from an ever-growing population and a soaring economy.

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