Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest rail networks, has revolutionized the travel industry. It connects cities, towns, and villages, making travelling from place to place easier, faster, and more convenient for millions of people daily.
But have you ever wondered which is the fastest train in the country? Well, the title is no longer held by the Vande Bharat or the Rajdhani-Shatabdi Express.
What is the name of India’s fastest train? Who operates this high-speed train?
The title now belongs to the Namo Bharat train. This train, which runs at 160 km/h, connects Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. It offers passengers a new experience on the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the future.
In other words, the Namo Bharat train, operating at its highest speed of 160 kmph on the 55-km section of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System, has become the fastest running train in the country.
Previously, trains like Vande Bharat and Gatimaan Express were regarded to be the fastest in the country. However, in June 2024, Railways issued an order reducing their speed to 130 km/h, reported by news agency PTI. At present, all trains across the Indian railway network operate with the upper speed limit of 130 kmph. By contrast, the Namo Bharat train has been sanctioned to run at 160 km/h, due to its specific design and contemporary technology.
Why is it faster than Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, and Shatabdi Express?
At present, the train operates on a 55 km stretch of the rail line between New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and Meerut South. The entire route is 82.15 km long. It has 16 stations from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh. When the whole route is operational, passengers will be able to travel to Meerut from Delhi in under one hour, including making all the stops at each station.
According to the news agency PTI report, thirty trainsets of Namo Bharat each having 6 cars — serving between New Ashok Nagar in East Delhi and Meerut South in Uttar Pradesh — runs with 15 minutes frequency from each station and touches its maximum 160 kmph for a few seconds between some of the 11 stations on the route.
“The entire 82.15 km long corridor with 16 stations, starting from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh, is likely to be commissioned soon,” officials from the National Capital Regional Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTCL), were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“How much does it cost to travel in AC coaches on India’s fastest train?”
The standard AC coach fare from Delhi NCR to Meerut is around Rs 150. The premium coach has a fare of between Rs 180 and Rs 225, depending on the station.
The trains have been designed in Hyderabad and built at Alstom’s factory in Savli. It has advanced technologies, including aerodynamic design, Automatic Train Protection (ATP)/Automatic Train Control (ATC)/Automatic Train Operation (ATO). With six coaches, there are trains approximately every 15 minutes, and it is specifically for long-distance passengers, ensuring they do not face frequent stops like in a metro service.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Namo Bharat train has become the fastest running train in the country.
- The entire 82.15 km long corridor with 16 stations, starting from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.
- It has 16 stations from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.
- Namo Bharat train has been sanctioned to run at 160 km/h.
An NCRTC press note said once the entire corridor is commissioned, it will connect Delhi to the heart of the historic city of Meerut with Namo Bharat trains covering the distance in less than one hour, while stopping at all the enroute stations.