The typical operating speed of a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train is up to 320 km/h (200 mph), with some models like the E5 series running regularly at this speed on routes such as the Tōhoku Shinkansen

. The average speed of Shinkansen trains is around 285 km/h (177 mph)

. In terms of record speeds, conventional Shinkansen trains have reached up to 443 km/h (275 mph) during test runs

. Beyond conventional trains, Japan is developing Maglev (magnetic levitation) trains, which have achieved a world speed record of 603 km/h (375 mph) in testing on the Chūō Shinkansen line

. These Maglev trains are expected to operate commercially at speeds around 500 km/h and could significantly reduce travel times between major cities like Tokyo and Osaka

. In summary:

• Regular Shinkansen top operating speed: about 320 km/h (200 mph)
• Test run speed for conventional Shinkansen: up to 443 km/h (275 mph)
• Maglev test speed record: 603 km/h (375 mph)
• Expected commercial Maglev speed: around 500 km/h (310 mph)

This makes the Shinkansen among the fastest conventional trains in the world, with Maglev trains pushing the boundaries of rail speed even further