Key Takeaways
- China has over 25,000 miles of high-speed rail in operation today, more than the rest of the world combined.
- Countries with the most planned future capacity include China (6,983 miles), India (4,647 miles), and the U.S. (3,145 miles).
- High-speed rail projects in the U.S. include California’s SF–LA line, Brightline West to Las Vegas, Amtrak’s new Acela, and a Texas Shinkansen-style project.
High-speed rail is one of the fastest growing transportation technologies in the world, cutting journey times and boosting economic integration. While only a handful of nations operate extensive networks today, dozens more are investing heavily to catch up.
In this graphic, we rank the countries with the most high-speed rail in 2025, differentiating between lines in operation, under construction, or in the planning stage.