Quiz: A Fast Look at High-Speed Rail

Trains have been going faster since the first steam locomotives were introduced in the early 19^th century. They developed incrementally, of course, but speed became goal in moving people and goods faster and faster from one point to another. In that context, the definition of high speed was relative, with trains reaching 81 miles per hour in 1854, jumping to 125 mph in the very early 20^th century. Today’s high-speed trains travel at speeds topping 205 mph, mostly in Europe and Asia. The United States lags the rest of the world in its development. See what you know about high-speed rail in this quiz.