The definition of high-speed rail in the US is a little different than in Japan or France. by amtrak Acela is the fastest train in North America, can reach speeds of 240 km/h. But in terms of top speed, this is nowhere near top-performing conventional locomotives, not to mention fastest bullet train based on magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology, with an operating speed of up to 314 mph (505 km/h).
However, the US was one of the first countries with the aim of developing a large-scale high-speed rail service in the 1960s. The first model – UAC Turbotrain – well built and capable of a top speed of 170 mph or 274 km/h – which was indeed a remarkable achievement for the time. But this working prototype was scrapped after just a few years of service.
There are some serious issues that limit the real-world performance of the UAC Turbotrain. This model made more noise, it was not smooth and safety was very limited – despite using the most advanced technology of the time. Quite surprisingly, the main technical problems were caused by the fact that the UAC Turbotrain was running on normal tracks, rather than using dedicated high-speed lines built separately.
The following video tells the full story of America’s revolutionary “Turbo” train that failed, but also demonstrates that you need to build the right infrastructure to make the concept possible. :
