The first trains probably did not go very much faster than 15 miles per hour. One train, was called "Catch me if you can" and ran on a circular route. People ran after it to try and catch it. The speed of trains is determined by many things. High speed trains have dedicated tracks, like the Thalys in France, the HST trains of the United Kingdom, the Russian Velaro trains, the ICE trains in Germany and the Bullet trains in Japan. Where ordinary passenger trains hauled by powerful locomotives might manage 115 - 130 kph, these trains go much, much faster. Image: Image: Image: