As of 2025^[update], India does not have any operationalhigh-speed rail lines capable of supporting more than 200 km/h (125 mph). Currently, the highest speed is achieved by theBhopal Shatabdi Express,Gatiman Express,Bhopal Vande Bharat Express andKhajuraho Vande Bharat Express on theTughlakabad–Agra section and the regionalNamo Bharat services with peak operational speed of 160 km/h (100 mph).

Indian Railways operatesIndia's railway system and comes under the purview of theMinistry of Railways ofGovernment of India. As of 2023^[update], it maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily. According to the Ministry of Railways, a route capable of supporting trains operating at more than 160 km/h (100 mph) is considered as ahigher speed or semi-high speed rail line.

Earliersteam locomotive operated trains largely operated below 100 km/h (62 mph). With the introduction ofelectric locomotives in the later 1920s and newer steam locomotives, speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph) were achieved. With the movement toACtraction in the late 1950s and introduction ofdiesel locomotives, commercial speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) was achieved in the late 1960s. With the introduction of high power electric locomotives in the 1990s, operating speeds of 130 km/h (81 mph) was achieved with further developments leading to speeds of maximum speeds of 160 km/h (100 mph) being realized in the early 2010s.Vande Bharat, anElectric Multiple Unit (EMU), introduced in 2018, is the fastest operational train-set and is capable of reaching 183 km/h (114 mph).

The firsthigh-speed railway corridor betweenMumbai andAhmedabad of about508 km (316 mi) is currently under construction with a designed maximum operational speed of 350 km/h (220 mph) and is expected to be operational fully by 2028-29. As of 2023, eight such corridors have also been proposed.

The history of the Indian Railway began in 1832 with the proposal to construct the first railway line in India atMadras. In 1837, the first train ran on Red Hill railwayline betweenRed Hills andChintadripet in Madras and was hauled by arotary steam engine imported fromEngland.^[1][2] In 1853, the first passenger train ran betweenBombay andThane which covered a distance of 54 km (34 mi) in 57 minutes, averaging a speed of 57 km/h (35 mph).^[3] Earlier trains ran usingsteam locomotives, where barely reached speeds of 90 km/h (56 mph). With the introduction ofWP class locomotives in 1947, speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph) were operated commercially.^[4] While the firstelectric train ran in Bombay in 1925 onDC traction,WCP-1 class electric locomotives were introduced in 1928, capable of speeds of up to 137 km/h (85 mph), though trains operated at lower speed.^[5][6]WDM-1, the firstdiesel locomotive introduced in 1957 was capable of speeds of up to 104 km/h (65 mph).^[7] In 1957, Indian Railways adopted25 kV 50 Hz AC traction with the first runs beginning in December 1959 with theWAM-1 locomotives, capable of reaching speeds of up to 112 km/h (70 mph).^[8]

In 1960, theRailway Board of India commissioned a study to increase the speed of its trains, which was restricted to 96 km/h (60 mph) on the existentbroad gauge lines.^[9] A target of 160 km/h (100 mph) with an intermediate stage of 120 km/h (75 mph) was set for passenger trains.Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) started work on the same in 1962 with field trials commencing in 1967.^[9] The coaches were manufactured by theIntegral Coach Factory atMadras and hauled bydiesel locomotives.^[9] On 19 February 1969, theGovernment of India announced the introduction of a new express train capable of reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) in therailway budget.^[10] On 1 March 1969, the first Rajdhani Express was flagged off fromNew Delhi toHowrah, which reached a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) and completed the 1,450 km (900 mi) trip in 17 hours 20 minutes at an average speed of 84 km/h (52 mph).^[9][11]

In 1980, theWAP-1 electric locomotives reached a speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).^[12]Shatabdi Express introduced in 1988, were capable of running at a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).^[13][14]WAP-5 class locomotives, initially imported fromABB in 1995 and later manufactured atChittaranjan Locomotive Works in India, reached 184 km/h (114 mph) in trials. The locomotive later set an Indian speed record by hauling a train between Delhi and Agra at a speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) in 2014.^[15] In December 2009, theMinistry of Railways ofGovernment of India envisaged the implementation of regional high-speed rail projects to provide services at 250–350 km/h (160–220 mph), and planning for corridors connecting commercial, tourist, and pilgrimage hubs.^[16][17] On 25 July 2013, Government of India established theHigh Speed Rail Corporation underRail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) for the implementation of high-speed rail corridor projects.^[18][19] In 2014, theDiamond Quadrilateral high speed rail project, which would connect the cities ofChennai,Delhi,Kolkata andMumbai via high-speed rail was approved by the government.^[20]

In April 2016, the WAP-5 hauledGatimaan Express became the fastest commercial train in India, with a maximum operational speed of 160 km/h (100 mph).^[21] In 2018, a modified WAP-5A locomotive, capable of speeds up to 200 km/h (125 mph) was rolled out.^[22] HSRC was renamed as National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC) in 2016. NHSRC identified eight corridors for the development of high speed railway.^[23][24] Construction of theMumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, India's first high-speed rail corridor started in 2021 and is expected to be operational by 2028.

In 2018, Integral Coach Factory inChennai, rolled out asemi-high-speedEMUtrain-set, capable of reaching 180 km/h (112 mph).^[25][26] In 2019, the firstVande Bharat Express entered commercial service with a maximum operational speed of 160 km/h (100 mph). The actual operating speed was much lower due to track restrictions and congestion with top speeds restricted to 130 km/h (81 mph) for most trains.^[27] In October 2023,Namo Bharat, built forRapidX byAlstom was launched and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h (112 mph).^[28] In December 2023, two modified WAP-5 locomotives were used to haul theAmrit Bharat train-set in a push-pull configuration, capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph).^[29][30]

In June 2024, the Indian Government announced that rather than purchase the now legacyE5 Series Shinkansen sets, contracted, in 2016, for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, its own, government owned,Integral Coach Factory andBEML, would produce a pair ofstandard gauge trains, capable of a maximum operational speed of 250 km/h (160 mph), for the line.^[31] The first prototype is expected to be delivered in December 2026.^[32]

In April 2025, it was reported that Japan will gift India two retired engineering train sets, one, 2011, E5 - (Doctor Yellow), and the, 2001, E3 -Class E926 Shinkansen, to help test and inspect the under-construction Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor.^[33] The two train sets are to be delivered in 2026, to aid the 2027-2028 commissioning of the line.^[33] The gifted Doctor Yellow will have a maximum operational speed of 285 km/h (177 mph). It was also reported that the Indian Government has a desire to purchaseE10 Series Shinkansen for the corridor.^[34]

According to the Ministry of Railways, a route where train can operate between 160–200 km/h (100–125 mph) is considered as ahigher speed or semi-high speed rail line, while the routes operating at less than 160 km/h (100 mph) are considered to be conventional rail lines.^[35][18] According to theInternational Union of Railways (IUC), a commercial speed of over 250 km/h (155 mph) for a newly built line or 200 km/h (125 mph) for an upgraded line is considered to be high-speed.^[36]

As of 8 April 2024
  Under Construction

As of 2025, India does not have any operational high-speed tracks. In 2016, Ministry of Railways envisaged to have top speeds of 300–350 km/h (190–220 mph) with trains running on elevated corridors to isolate high-speed train tracks to prevent trespassing. Multiple feasibility studies have been done and probable routes have been identified.^[37][38] In 2017, a 508 km (316 mi) standard gauge line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad was approved for construction and is expected to be operational by 2028.^[39]

Diamond Quadrilateral

In 2014, the Diamond Quadrilateral high-speed rail network project was launched by Government of India and is envisioned to connect the four major metro cities of India namely: Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.^[48][49]

Super high-speed rail

In 2016, Indian Railways explored the possibility ofmaglev trains to implement an over-500-kilometre-per-hour (310 mph) speed rail system.^[50][51] In February 2019, a train model based upon the same was unveiled byRaja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology capable of speeds of up to 600 km/h (370 mph).^[52] In September 2020,Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited signed a pact with SwissRapide AG for the implementation of MagLev metro systems in India.^[53]

While there are no operationalhyperloop systems in the world, testing has been done and a few routes have been proposed.^[54]Hyperloop One submitted a detailed project report in January 2018 for Mumbai toPune.^[55]Virgin Hyperloop signed a MoU withGovernment of Punjab in 2019 for building a rail to cover total 226 km (140 mi) distance betweenAmritsar andChandigarh.^[56]Hyperloop One signed a MoU withGovernment of Karnataka to conduct a feasibility study on theBengaluru-Chennai route in 2017.^[57] Zeleros proposed a vision for a hyperloop network in India by 2050, connecting main cities.^[58]

A 174 km (108 mi) segment of track in theTughlakabad–Agra Cantonment section supports semi-high speeds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph).^[59][60] As of 2023^[update], the maximum operational speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) is achieved byGatimaan Express andVande Bharat Express on the above section.^[61][62]

Track upgrades (Broad gauge)

In 2009,Indian Railways envisioned a plan to increase the speed of passenger trains to 160–200 km/h (100–125 mph) on dedicated conventional tracks and improve the existing conventional lines on1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)Broad gauge to handle speeds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph).^[18]Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India has builtdedicated freight corridors across India to divert cargo traffic from the passenger railway tracks, thus helping increase the operational speed of the passenger trains to 160 km/h (100 mph).^[63]

New tracks

RapidX system operating on 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)Standard gauge tracks and capable of supporting speeds of up to 180 km/h (112 mph), became operational with the partial opening ofDelhi–Meerut line in 2023.^[69]

For high-speed rail, the Indian railways will construct bullet train assembly facilities on apublic-private participation (PPP) model. As per NHSRCL, Japanese companies will set up manufacturing facilities in India to build the parts for bullet train sets.^[75] For semi-high speed rail, Indian Railways had already rolled outTrain 18 in 2018. These self-propelledEMU train sets manufactured by Integral Coach Factory are capable of reaching 180 km/h (112 mph).^[76] These trains have eight or sixteen coaches with driver cabins on both ends, which eliminates the time needed for turnaround at the terminal station with faster acceleration and deceleration, enabling the train to travel at a top speed for longer distance.^[77][78]

Rolling stock

Name	Image	Origin	Manufacturer	Trainsets	Lines	Type	Gauge size	Gauge type	Traction	Max speed (km/h)		Status	Year
										Potential	Operational
Semi-high-speed
Vande Bharat (Prototype)		India	ICF	2	1	EMU	1676mm	Broad-gauge	Electric	180[79][80]	130[81]	In service	2019
Vande Bharat		India	ICF	53	51	EMU	1676mm	Broad-gauge	Electric	180	160	In service	2022
Namo Bharat		India	Alstom	210	1	EMU	1435mm	Standard-gauge	Electric	180	160	In service	2023
High-speed
E5 Series Shinkansen		Japan	Hitachi Rail & Kawasaki	None (24 planned)[82][83]	N/A	EMU	1435mm	Standard-gauge	Electric (25 kV 50 Hz AC)	320	N/A	Planned	2026[82]

Mega carrier and launcher machines or transporter, gantry, and full span launcher machines are machines used to constructviaducts (elevated structures) for bullet train corridorsin China. These vehicles carry an entiregirder by traveling on already launched girders to place the next one. The speed was several times faster compared to India's conventional girder launching mechanism, with the Chinese machine laying two girders a day on an average compared to one and a half girders in a week by the Indian counterpart.^[84] NHSRCL then askedL&T which was constructing the 325 km (202 mi) stretch ofMumbai-Ahmedabad line to build such machines. The machine costs around₹70 crore (US$8.3 million) and 30 such machines were required to construct the 465 km (289 mi) elevated stretch.^[84] On 9 September 2021, India joined four other countries, to possess Full Span Launching Methodology (FSLM) technology after L&T was able to develop the machine successfully. NHSRCL planned to acquire 20 such machines initially for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project in order to speed up construction. These machines could be later deployed to build viaducts for elevated roads andrapid transit systems across India.^[85][86]

National Academy of Indian Railways,Vadodara was established in 2018 with the aim of developing indigenously high-speed train manufacturing technology.^[87][88][89] Other institutions focused on Railway technology research and development are:IIT BHU Malviya Centre for Railway Technology,IIT Kharagpur Centre for Railways Research andResearch Design and Standards Organization (RDSO). Integral Coach Factory(ICF) Chennai has been tasked with producing steel body trains capable of 280kmph and in service speed of 250kmph for the bullet train routes.^[90]

Year	Class	Type	Speed[4]	Image
1947	WP class	Steam	100 km/h (62 mph)
1969	WDM-4	Diesel	120 km/h (75 mph)
1971			130 km/h (81 mph)
1971	WAM-2/3	Electric	140 km/h (87 mph)
1982	WAM-4B		145 km/h (90 mph)
1988	WAP-1		160 km/h (99 mph)
1996	WAP-4		169 km/h (105 mph)
1997	WAP-5		184 km/h (114 mph)

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