In today’s hectic environment, getting where we want to go as quickly as possible is essential. The Indian Railways have created high-speed trains to satisfy the need for speed. The third-largest and most extensive railroad network is controlled by the Indian Railways. The Indian Speed Stars, the nation’s fastest train, was developed by the Railway Ministry to travel long distances swiftly while carrying more than a million passengers each day. The development of high-speed tracks has prompted ongoing experiments to boost the speed of already-existing trains while introducing new and better models. Let’s have a peek at Speed Stars of India.
Here is the list of the 11 fastest trains in the country:
1. Vande Bharat Express
Max Speed: 180 km/hr, Avg Speed: 112 km/hr
The current fastest train in India was first inaugurated in 2019. This engineless train maintains an average track speed of 112 km/h while being planned to go at speeds of 180–160 km/h. A significant achievement is the 4- to 5-hour reduction in journey time achieved by Train 18, also known as the Vande Bharat Express. There are 16 fully furnished coaches on the train, each with a WiFi connection and a GPS to keep track of the stations. Additionally, it features security cameras, automated doors, and bio-vacuum restrooms. It is slated to shortly take the place of the Shatabdi Express as its intended replacement. Under the Make in India Initiative, this train was created.
2. Tejas Express
Max Speed: 162 km/hr Avg. Speed: 110 km/hr
The Tejas Express, one of three semi-high-speed trains operating in India with modern onboard amenities and automatic doors (the others being the Vande Bharat Express and the Gatimaan Express), debuted in 2017. It travels 551 kilometers between Mumbai and Goa in 8.5 hours, and it also runs on two additional routes, one from Lucknow to Anand Vihar terminal and the other from Delhi to Mumbai.
3. Gatimaan Express
Max Speed: 160 km/hr
The 188 km between New Delhi and Agra are covered by this fast train in 1 hour and 40 minutes. At a rapid 160 km/h, it speeds between India’s two most well-known tourist destinations. It is the fastest train in India and has amenities like fire alarms, bio-toilets, automated sliding doors, and a GPS-based passenger information system. Like airlines, this train has hostesses. The travelers also have access to multimedia items and free WiFi. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods are available in both North Indian and South Indian varieties.
4. Bhopal Shatabdi Express
Max Speed: 150 km/hr
In honor of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express, which connects Delhi and Bhopal, was first introduced in 1988. It covers a distance of 707 kilometers while traveling at a top speed of 155 kilometers per hour. The daily-running train has 18 coaches, including two AC First class cars, 14 AC Chair cars, and two power cars. The train offers facilities including meals, water bottles, tea or coffee, snacks, etc., for the passengers as well as fully air-conditioned chair-car coaches. It should be noted that there are no amenities for the sleeping class.
5. Mumbai – New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Max Speed: 140 km/hr
In addition to being the first Rajdhani train to feature Alstom-LHB carriages, the Mumbai Rajdhani Express is also the fastest Rajdhani Express train currently in service. The Mumbai Rajdhani Express has 20 coaches: 2 baggage coaches, one pantry coach, one first-class AC coach, five second-class AC coaches, and 11 third-class AC coaches. It covers a distance of 1384 km with a peak speed of 140 kilometers per hour between Mumbai Central and New Delhi. The passenger facilities include plug-in plugs, WiFi, onboard food with breakfast and dinner snacks, tea or coffee, bottled water, dinners, ice cream, etc.
To lighten the passenger load on the Lucknow Shatabdi Express, the Kanpur Reverse Shatabdi was developed. It travels at the same pace but only goes 437 km.
6. New Delhi – Howrah Rajdhani Express
Max Speed: 135 km/hr
The Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (via Gaya), also known as the Kolkata Rajdhani Express, is a Rajdhani-class train operated by Indian Railways that travels from Kolkata, the former capital of West Bengal and the Cultural Capital of India, to New Delhi, the country’s National Capital, through Howrah. The Howrah Rajdhani is one of Indian Railways’ fastest trains and the country’s first Rajdhani Express. The rail route between New Delhi and Kolkata and back is the quickest. A WAP 7 with its Howrah base pulling it from end to end. It covers a distance of 1450 kilometers between the capital and the city of joy at a maximum speed of 135 km/h and an average speed of 85 km/h.
Sometimes people become confused because according to the Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM) on the Indian Railways website or the Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering website, the BG (Broad Gauge) lines have been classified into six groups’ A’ to ‘E’ based on the future maximum permissible speeds. Still, it may not be same as present speed.
7. Mumbai LTT – H.Nizamuddin
Maximum speed-130 km/hr
The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Hazrat Nizamuddin AC SF Express Train Number 22109 is an AC SuperFast train operated by Indian Railways in the CR/Central Zone. It began offering services on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. It has nine stops. Between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Hazrat Nizamuddin, there are 229 intermediate stations, covering a distance of 1518 kilometers in 19h 55m at a speed of 130 km/h. The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus departure time for the Mumbai LTT – Hazrat Nizamuddin AC SF Express is 14:30, while the arrival time in Hazrat Nizamuddin is 10:25, plus one night. Platform 1 at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus station and Platform 6 at Hazrat Nizamuddin are where it typically arrives.
8. New Delhi – Howrah Duronto Express
Maximum speed – 120 to 130 km/hr
The New Delhi-Sealdah AC Indian Railways’ Duronto train in the ER/Eastern Zone, number 12260, travels from New Delhi to Sealdah. Services began on September 18, 2009, on Friday. It has three stops. There are 265 intermediate stations on the 1457-kilometer journey from New Delhi to Sealdah, which takes 16 hours and 55 minutes. The New Delhi-Sealdah AC Duronto Express departs New Delhi at 19:40 and arrives in Sealdah at 12:35, plus one night. Platforms 10 at New Delhi Station and 9A and 9B at Sealdah are the leading arrival platforms.
9. Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad AC Double Decker Express
Maximum speed -121 km/hr
Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central AC Indian Railways’ Double Decker Express Train Number 12931 travels from Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad Junction in the WR/Western Zone. It began offering services on September 20, 2012. It has nine stops. Between Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad Junction, there are 107 intermediate stations. They are completing a 493-kilometer total trip in 7 hours and 20 minutes. The AC Double Decker Express from Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad departs at 14:20 and arrives at Ahmedabad Junction at 21:40. Platform Number 5 at Mumbai Central Station and Platform Number 2 at Ahmedabad Junction are the regular arrival platforms for it.
10. Maharashtra Sampark Kranti Express
Maximum speed -110 km/hr
Indian Railways’ Sampark Kranti train in the WR/Western Zone, Maharashtra Sampark Kranti Express Train Number 12908, travels from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Bandra Terminus. Service began on November 4, 2004, a Thursday. It has three stops. There are 215 stopover stations between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Bandra Terminus, covering a distance of 1367 kilometers in 19 hours and 0 minutes. Maharashtra Sampark Kranti Express leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 21:35 and arrives at Bandra Terminus at 16:35 (+1 night). At Hazrat Nizamuddin station, it often arrives on Platform 7, while at Bandra Terminus; it typically arrives on Platform 2.
With an average speed of 72 km/h and reaching 110 km/h.
11. Kota – H.Nizamuddin Jan Shatabdi Express
Maximum speed -110 km/hr
Indian Railways’ Kota-Hazrat Nizamuddin Jan Shatabdi Express Train Number 12059 travels from Kota Junction to Hazrat Nizamuddin in the WCR/West Central Zone. Services began on Monday, November 11, 2002. It makes eight stops. Between Kota Junction and Hazrat Nizamuddin, 64 intermediate stations span a distance of 458 kilometers in 6 hours and 35 minutes. Kota-Hazrat Nizamuddin Jan Shatabdi Express departs from Kota Junction at 05:55. It arrives at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 12:30. Platform 1A at Kota Junction station and Platform 7 at Hazrat Nizamuddin are the regular arrival platforms for it.
Conclusion
So, this was the list of the 11 fastest trains in India, the speed stars of India. A large country like India needs a robust train system to connect its major cities and its outlying regions. A longer list of India’s fastest trains will be released shortly because of the country’s expanding and improving railway network.
