Japan is developing the L0 Series, a next-generation magnetic levitation (maglev) train that could become the fastest in the world, reaching speeds of up to 603.5 km/h. Built by JR Central, it would far outpace China’s Shanghai Maglev (460 km/h) and Europe’s fastest conventional trains such as France’s TGV and Italy’s Italo (around 300–350 km/h).
The L0 Series is being designed for the Chuo Shinkansen line, which is expected to cut travel time between Tokyo and Nagoya to about 40 minutes, down from up to two and a half hours today. Once extended to Osaka, the system would link Japan’s three biggest metropolitan areas into a single high-speed corridor. By comparison, a similar service in the UK could theoretically reduce a London–Edinburgh journey to about an hour.
Its extraordinary speed comes from magnetic levitation, which lifts the train above the track and eliminates friction, allowing it to glide forward using electromagnetic propulsion. However, this technology comes at a cost. The project has already reached around £52bn (€60bn), has been delayed by eight years, and is now unlikely to open before 2034–35.
Whether such a train could work in Europe remains doubtful. Maglev systems require entirely new infrastructure, mostly underground tunnels, and cannot run on existing rail lines. They are also more energy-intensive and carry fewer passengers than many European high-speed trains. In addition, European rail travel often prioritises comfort, capacity and scenic routes over extreme speed, except on short business-focused corridors.
While the L0 Series represents a remarkable engineering achievement, its arrival in Europe looks unlikely for now due to cost, infrastructure demands and differing travel priorities.
