Train technology is always changing. While some historic steam trains survive, most freight trains are pulled by locomotives powered by diesel engines. Most commuter and metro trains operate on electricity from the power grid. High-speed trains are also catching on around the world.
These electricity-powered trains usually operate between major destinations and have their own tracks so they can speed along without stopping at speeds over 150 mph. Riding in a high-speed train produces much less air pollution than going the same distance by plane. Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Spain all use high-speed train networks to connect big cities. Want to go even faster? A few trains use powerful electromagnets and actually levitate above their tracks—so there’s no friction—shooting by at speeds over 300 mph.