If you are planning to travel to the biggest Hindu country, you shouldn’t go without knowing which are the fastest trains in India in 2016!
As India is considered one of the biggest countries in the world, not just because of the population, but territorially as well, the transport could easily become a very important issue. The whole territory of India is approximately 1,147,839 sq miles. That makes it the 8th country in the world by the size of its land area. So, if you want to visit it whole, which transport would be the best option for traveling?
Planes could seem as the easiest option, but their prices are very high. If you are searching for a lower budget trip, then you would find more approachable some ‘ground’ transportation. So, the choice is basically between car, motorcycle, bus or train. Cars are not very popular in India, whereas motorcycles are the most preferred type of vehicle. Plenty of places offer the rental, and there are also many motorcycle tours if you are traveling by yourself and want to have a company. One of the best starting points for motorcycle tours is considered to be Delhi and Manali. However, for motorcycles, you should always check the weather forecast, since the bad weather can stop you from traveling whenever you want. And, in the end, if you are not among the best motorcyclists, there are safer ways of traveling. Therefore, we could narrow the choice a bit more to buses and trains.
The good thing about buses in India is that they go almost everywhere and, in addition, they are the only way to get around many mountainous areas. On the other hand, they are known to be overcrowded and therefore, there is always a potential risk of getting tipped over. As it is the country with more than 17% of the total world population, this phenomenon of overcrowded buses is understandable. Even though they are the cheapest way of traveling, they are, however, the most uncomfortable one. Moreover, night buses are very hazardous as the drivers could be overtired.
So, we are down to trains, which are shown to be the best option for traveling around this beautiful country. Rail transport in India is commonly used mode of traveling, especially fog long distances. Most of the railways are handled by their national company Indian Railways, which is the fourth largest railway network in the world, after Russia, USA, and China. The first railway was introduced to India in 1853, and the track of the train went from Mumbai to Thane. At the time of Indian independence in 1947, they had already developed forty-two railway systems. In addition, they created many fast trains as well, or so-called express trains.
Express trains of India are a part of its regular rail service, but with the fastest trains and the smallest number of stops. The average speed of these trains goes from 80 km/h up to the highest speed of 160 km/h. The most famous ones are Duronto, Shatabdi, and Rajdhani trains which have high-quality locomotives built by the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works. Apart from that, Jan Sadharan Express is known for trains that have nonreserved coaches, which are more popular among Indians.
Development of road infrastructure in India is in progress, as The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has invested around $47.7 billion in the last couple of years, for building new highways. The Government of India is trying its best to boost the economy by developing the infrastructure sector, therefore by the end of February in 2017, a total of 6,604 km of national highways were constructed. If you are interested more in this topic, check out our previous article – 11 Countries with the Best Road Infrastructure in the World.
In order to find which trains are the fastest ones in India for the year 2016, we researched many sources such as India TV News, Walk Through India and Indian Express, among others. From their suggestions, we made our list by comparing the highest maximum speed of Indian trains on India Rail Info and then ranking them in that manner. For the completeness of information, we also mention the routes they are taking, their travel time for those routes and the average speed. For those ones who shared the same maximum speed, we gave priority to the ones with higher average speed. Let’s begin!
13. Jan Shatabdi Express
Maximum speed: 110 km/h
This express train route is: Kota Junction – Sawai Madhopur Jn – Gangapur City – Shri Mahabirji – Hindaun City – Bayana Jn – Bharatpur Jn – Mathura Jn – Ballabgarh – to Hazrat Nizamuddin. It covers the distance of 458 km in travel time of 6 hours and 35 minutes, by going with the average speed of 70 km/h, even though its maximum speed could go up to 110 km/h. It operates as train number 12059 from Kota Junction to Hazrat Nizamuddin, and as train number 12060, it passes through Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
12. Maharashtra Sampark Kranti Express
Maximum speed: 110 km/h
The first service of this train was in 2004. Its route is: Hazrat Nizamuddin – Kota Jn – Vadodara Jn – Borivali – Bandra Terminus, and the distance is 1367 km. Approximate travel time for an average speed of 72 km/h is 19 hours. It operates under number 12908.
11. Allahabad Duronto Express
Maximum speed: 120-130 km/h
This is one of the fastest trains in India in 2016, with an average speed of 70 km/h and travel time of 19h 10 minutes from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Allahabad Junction.
10. Howrah Duronto Express
Maximum speed: 120-130 km/h
The first service of this train was in 2009. It goes under number 12273, at the average speed of 74 km/h. The route is Howrah Jn – Dhanbad Jn – Mughal Sarai Jn – Kanpur Central – New Delhi.
9. Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad AC Double Decker Express
Maximum speed: 130 km/h
Under the numbers 12931 and 12932, Mumbai Central Ahmedabad Double Decker Express connects Ahmedabad Jn with Mumbai Central. In between there are eight stops: Nadiad Jn – Anand Jn – Vadodara Jn – Bharuch Jn – Surat – Valsad – Vapi – Borivali. The average time for passing that route is 7h and 20 minutes, whereas the distance is 493 km long. The average speed of this train is 67 km/h.
8. Mumbai LTT – Hazrat Nizamuddin AC Superfast Express
Maximum speed: 130 km/h
This train is the type of AC Superfast trains, which are very popular in India. It goes under number 22109, and its route is: Lomanya Tilak Terminus – Kalyan Jn – Igatpuri – Nasik Road – Bhusaval Jn – Bhopal Jn – Jhansi Jn – Gwalior Jn – Agra Cantt. – Hazrat Nizamuddin. With the average speed of 76 km/h, it covers the distance of 1,518 km. Time travel is around 19 hours and 55 minutes.
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7. Bandra Terminus Hazrat Nizamuddin Garib Rath Express
Maximum speed: 130 km/h
We are continuing our list of fastest trains in India in 2016 with this train that operates under the number 12909/10 with the travel distance of 1,367 km for approximately 16 hours and 35 minutes. Its average speed is 82 km/h, while the route has seven stops: Hazrat Nizamuddin – Mathura Jn – Kota Jn – Ratlam Jn – Dahod – Vadodara Jn – Surat – Borivali – Bandra Terminus.
6. Howrah Rajdhani Express
Maximum speed: 135 km/h
Howrah Rajdhani is one of the most prestigious Rajdhani class train in India! It connects New Delhi and Howrah, Kolkata. This type of Rajdhani was the first Rajdhani Express in India and the first train with air conditioning in the country. Moreover, it is the only type of this brand with available Wi-Fi. Its average speed is 86 km/h for the distance of 1,450 km, which in time, is around 16 hours and 55 minutes. The train operates as the number 12302.
5. New Delhi – Sealdah Duronto Express
Maximum speed: 135 km/h
This train that’s up next on our list of fastest trains in India in 2016 was first launched in 2009. Its average speed is 88 km/h for the distance of 1,468 km. The average travel time is 16 hours and 55 minutes. It has five stops: New Delhi – Kanpur Central – Mughal Sarai Jn – Dhanbad Jn – Sealdah, and the number of the train is 12260.
4. Mumbai – New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Maximum speed: 140 km/h
This Rajdhani train is considered to be among the fastest trains in India in 2016, having in mind its average speed of 89 km/h for the distance of 1,386 km. The needed time for the route: Mumbai Central – Borivali – Surat – Vadodara Jn – Ratlam Jn – Nagda Jn – Kota Jn – New Delhi is 15 hours and 15 minutes. It was introduced to India in 1975. It operates as train number 12951 up from Mumbai Central to New Delhi and as train number 12952 in the opposite direction. The train was shown in the film “The Rajdhani Express”.
3. New Delhi – Kanpur Shatabdi Express
Maximum speed: 140 km/h
This train that rank 3rd on our list of fastest trains in India in 2016 was first introduced to India in 2010. Its average speed is 90 km/h for the distance of 440 km. Time travel is approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes. The route is from New Delhi, passing through Ghaziabad Jn and Etawah Jn, with the last stop in Kanpur Central. The train operates as the number 12034.
2. New Delhi Habibganj Shatabdi Express
Maximum speed: 150 km/h
New Delhi Habibganj Shatabdi Express (12002), the next one on our list of fastest trains in India in 2016 is a train that is operated by the Northern Railway. Its average speed is 90 km/h for the distance of 702 km. The average travel time is estimated to be 7 hours and 50 minutes for the route: New Delhi – Mathura Jn – Agra Cantonment – Morena – Gwalior – Jhansi Jn – Lalitpur Jn – Bhopal Jn – Habibganj. Its first service was in 1988.
1. Gatimaan Express
Maximum speed: 160 km/h
On the top of our list of 13 fastest trains in India in 2016 is Gatimaan Express! With its maximum speed of 160 km/h, it covers the distance of 188 km. Moreover, it has the highest average speed as well, of 113 km/h, for the travel time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Under the train number 12050 it connects two stops: Hazrat Nizamuddin and Agra Cantonment.
