When it comes to train travel, Japan has few peers. Its so-called bullet train debuted in 1964, running at an average speed of 80 miles per hour. Today, some bullet trains can reach around 200 miles per hour. And to date, that particular system has never had a fatal crash. Trains run with on-time precision. Recently, a Japanese company offered a formal apology after its train left the station 20 seconds early. The Japanese are also pioneering magnetic levitation, which uses powerful magnets to elevate the train above the track, reducing friction and increasing speed. In Europe, a handful of countries, including France and Germany, also operate high-speed rail systems boasting speeds of 200 miles per hour. The fastest train in the U.S., the Amtrak Acela Express, runs between Boston and Washington, D.C. It can hit speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. But the rail player to watch may be China. The country plans to spend billions to construct new rail lines throughout Asia and into Europe to support the flow of Chinese goods into foreign markets.