The European Union defines High speed trains, also called Bullet trains for their appearance, with a speed limit of up to 250 kilometers per hour; while in the United States, Federal Railroad Administration identifies speed above 177 kilometers per hour for high speed trains.

However, a few high speed trains run at more than 300 kilometers an hour and in fact, a French high speed train ran at a record breaking speed of 574.8 kilometer per hour in 2007.

Then, there are German Transrapid trains that are based on magnetic levitation technology and run without wheels. These trains can accelerate at a tremendous speed of 500 kilometers per hour.

Though high speed trains have cut down on travel time between important destinations in many developed economies, fatal accident aboard is the downside of high-speed train technology that have claimed many lives to date.

A high speed train crashed in the northern German town of Eschede in June 2008, killing at least 90 people, including many children. More than 300 were injured in what is considered the worst train wreck in post-war German history.

In yet another deadly train disaster in Germany, at least 23 people were killed when a Transrapid high-speed train in the northern German region of Emsland near the town of Lathen smashed into a maintenance vehicle and its two-man crew at a speed of at least 200 km per hour while on a test run in September 2006, authorities told media after the accident.

More recently, a collision between two high speed trains in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, eastern China on July 23, 2011, killed at least 39 people and injured 210 passengers, raising concerns about the safety of the country’s fast-growing high speed rail network, Reuters reported. China plans to build 13,000 km (8,078 miles) of high-speed railway by 2012, more than the rest of the world combined.

Start the slideshow to learn more about some of the high speed trains in the world.

The French TGV High Speed Train
The special V150 French TGV high-speed train travels along newly-built track to break the world speed record at 574.8 kilometres (357 miles) per hour in France's Champagne region in Grigny, April 3, 2007. It set a world record speed of 574.8 km per hour on French track, and has a cruising speed of 360 km per hour. V150 French TGV trains run on the Paris-Strasbourg line. REUTERS
The French AGV
An AGV prototype by France's engineering firm Alstom is seen in this January 2007 handout photo at their factory in Aytre, near La Rochelle, southwestern France. The prototype "AGV" (Automotrice Grande Vitesse), a successor to France's hallmark TGV fast train network, has a commercial speed of 360 kilometres (223.7 miles) per hour, according to the manufacturers. REUTERS
Chinas Harmony Bullet Train
A CRH (China Railway High-speed) Harmony bullet train pulls into Beijing South Railway Station, July 25, 2011. These trains run at a top speed of up to 350 kilometers per hour and cut the journey time on the key Beijing-Shanghai route from nine hours to five. REUTERS/Jason Lee
The German ICE of Deutsche Bahn
An Intercity Express (ICE) high-speed train of German railway Deutsche Bahn is pictured during a test run on the newly built track near the northern Bavarian village of Kinding, May 10, 2006. These trains are equipped to run at a speed varying from 200 up to 330 kilometers per hour. REUTERS/Alexandra Beier
German Transrapid Trains
A Transrapid high speed maglev train is seen on a test track in Lathen near the German-Dutch border on May 24, 2001. China started to build the first commercial Transrapid track in Shanghai in January 2001. The high tech magnetic train and one of the world's fastest trains, Transrapid trains can accelerate at a tremendous speed of 500 kilometers per hour. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Hayabusa Bullet Train, Japan
The Hayabusa shinkansen or bullet train departs from Aomori station in Aomori, northern Japan on March 5, 2011. The train was deputed in March 2011. Hayabusa can travel at speeds of up to 300 kilometer per hour and it has the longest nose of any shinkansen at 15 meters. According to the East Japan Railway Co., Hayabusa is a fast way to travel between Tokyo and various cities in the Tohoku region. REUTERS/KYODO
Bombardier Bags 648 Million German Rail Order
Bombardier Inc's transportation unit has received an order for 90 electric multiple units of the 430 series from DB Regio AG valued at $648 million. REUTERS
High-speed AVE Train, Spain
A high-speed AVE train, which has a top speed of between 300-350 kmh (186-217 mph), is seen at the Joaquin Sorolla station after a 98-km (61-mile) test ride with passengers from Hoya de Roda to Valencia Oct. 13, 2010. The train provides a one-and-a-half hour one-way ride linking Madrid and Valencia in Spain. AVE train also links Madrid to Barcelona in less than three hours on a one-way ride. REUTERS/Heino Kalis
Barrick profit lifted by surging bullion price
Chairman and founder of Barrick Gold Peter Munk"s trademark hat sits on the table as he speaks at the Barrick Gold Annual General Meeting in Toronto, April 29, 2009. Reuters
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