Japan bullet train breaks speed record

TOKYO, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Japan's superfast Maglev train has broken its own world speed record by reaching a new top speed of 361 mph, Sky News reported Wednesday.

The engineering icon uses magnetic levitation to minimize friction as it hurtles down the tracks.

It is the third time since mid-November that the sleek train has broken its record.

It was first set at 343 mph in 1999, then edged up to 347 mph last month before rising again to 360 mph and then the latest mark.

The new record was set on experimental test track west of the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

Since being launched in 1997, the Maglev has logged a total of 207,000 miles and carried almost 64,000 people.

But it has yet to enter commercial service.