The countries with the fastest trains - UK doesn't make top 5

The 10 countries with the fastest trains have been revealed. (Image: Getty)

The 10 countries from around the world that boast the quickest trains have been revealed, and the UK doesn't even make the top five. Britain actually took the number 10 spot.

The fastest train in the country is the Eurostar e320, which transports passengers across the continent at 186mph. While this may seem rapid, it's still 31mph off the top spot. The Javeline train, operated by Southeastern, uses some of the same line and can reach 140pmh. 

The e320 goes along the London-Paris-Brussels line, using the High Speed 1 (HS1) line from St Pancras International. It's also suitable for use in Germany and the Netherlands, unlike other Eurostar trains. Its maximum operating speed is 200mph, but HS1 is limited to 186mph. Technically, this means it shares last place with Saudi Arabia and Italy, where trains also clocked the same speed.

The Eurostar e320 is the UK's fastest train. (Image: Getty)

Elsewhere in Europe, Germany (205mph) took the number two spot, France (200mph) number three, Spain (193mph) number six, and Italy (186mph) came in eighth. 

Coming in at number one was China, with a series of high-speed trains operating at 217mph.

The Fuxing CR 400s have, however, reached 261mph on test runs. It's also expected that the next generation CR450AF and CR450BF trains will run at 280mph.

The Shanghai Maglev technically has a maximum cruising speed of 286mph, but typically travels at 186mph to improve comfort and reduce energy costs. 

1. China - 217mph
2. Germany - 205mph 
3. France - 200mph
4. Japan - 200mph
5. Morocco - 199mph
6. Spain - 193mph
7. South Korea - 189mph
8. Italy - 186mph
9. Saudi Arabia - 186mph
10. UK - 186mph