India's 20 superfast trains

A French high-speed train, TGV holds the world record hitting a top speed of 574.8km/hr. Its operational speed is 300-320 kmph.

The Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid with an operational speed of 430km/hr and average speed of 251 km/hr is a magnetic levitation train launched in China in 2003.

While the world boasts of record breaking superfast trains, let’s take a look at the fastest trains in India…

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The Indian Railways has an ambitious plan to increase the speed of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains to 160-200 km/hour over the next three years.

The maximum speed of these trains is 130-160 km per hour.

Currently, 450 pairs of superfast trains run on the Indian Railways.

Take a look at 20 superfast trains in India…

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New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express

Rank: 1

Average speed: 91.85 km/hr

New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express is the fastest train in India with the top speed of 160 km/hr.

Operated by the Northern Railway, the train started services in 1988. The first Shatabdi train introduced in India, the train runs at an average speed of 91 km/hr.

It covers a distance of 701 kilometres in 8 hours and 5 minutes.

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Rajdhani Express (Mumbai Central-New Delhi)

Rank: 2

Average speed: 91.56 km/hr

Rajdhani Express, which connects New Delhi with other important destinations and state capitals is one of the main revenue spinners for the Indian Railways.

Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1969. The trains are fully air-conditioned and complimentary meals are served onboard.

It covers a distance of 1384 kilometres from Mumbai Central to New Delhi in 15 hours and 57 minutes.

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Duronto (Sealdah – New Delhi)

Rank: 3

Average speed: 91.13 km/hr

This is the fastest Duronto service in India. These trains do not have any stops though it stops for change of crew and catering purposes.

Duronto Express connects metros with major state capitals.

It covers a distance of 1453 kilometres from Sealdah to Delhi in 16 hours and 20 minutes. 

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Shatabdi Express (New Delhi – Kanpur)

Rank: 4

Average speed: 89.63 km/hr

The train covers a distance of 441 kms from New Delhi to Kanpur in four hours and 44 minutes. The first Shatabdi train was started in 1988.

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Rajdhani Express (New Delhi – Howrah)

Rank: 5

Average speed: 88.21 km/hr

It covers a distance of 1,447 kilometres from New Delhi to Howrah in 16 hours and 55 minutes.

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Duronto Express (New Delhi- Howrah)

Rank: 6

Average speed: 87.06 km/hr

It covers a distance of 1,441 kilometres from New Delhi to Howrah in 17 hours and 10 minutes.

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Duronto Express (New Delhi – Allahabad)

Rank: 7

Average speed: 86.85 km/hr

The train travels a distance of 634 kilometres in 7 hours and 20 minutes.

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Rajdhani Express (Sealdah – New Delhi)

Rank: 8

Average speed: 87.06 km/hr

The train covers a distance of 1,458 kilometres from Sealdah to New Delhi in 17 hours and 30 minutes.

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Garib Rath (Nizamuddin – Bandra)

Rank: 9

Average speed: 85.91 km/hr

Garib Rath is a low-cost fully air-conditioned train started in 2005.  The maximum speed of Garib Rath trains is around 130 km/hr.

The train covers a distance of 1,366 kilometres in 16 hours and 30 minutes. It is also the fastest Garib Rath.

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Shatabdi Express (New Delhi-Lucknow)

Rank: 10

Average speed: 85.03 km/hr 

It covers a distance of 513 kilometres from New Delhi to Lucknow in 6 hours and 15 minutes.

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Yuva Express (Nizamuddin – Bandra)

Rank: 11

Average speed: 84.67 km/hr

The fastest among Yuva Express, the trains travels a distance of 1366 kilometres from Nizamuddin to Bandra in 16 hours and 40 minutes.

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Rajdhani Express (Mumbai Central –Nizamuddin)

Rank: 12

Average speed: 84 km/hr

It covers a distance of 1,377 kilometres from Mumbai Central to Nizamuddin in 17 hours.

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Yuva Express (Howrah – New Delhi)

Rank: 13

Average speed: 83.80 km/hr

The train covers a distance of 1,447 kms from Howrah to New Delhi in 17 hours and 40 minutes.

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Rajdhani Express (Rajendra Nagar – New Delhi)

Rank: 14

Average speed: 81.57 km/hr

This Rajdhani Express travels a distance of 1,002 kms in 12 hours and 35 minutes.

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Duronto Express (Secunderabad- Nizamuddin)

Rank: 15

Average speed: 80.88 km/hr

This train covers a distance of 1,658 kms in 21 hours and 5 minutes. 

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Duronto Express (Bhubaneswar –New Delhi)

Rank: 16

Average speed: 80.59 km/hr

It covers a distance of 1726 kilometres from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi in 21 hours and 55 minutes.

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Rajdhani Express (New Delhi – Howrah)                 

Rank: 17

Average speed: 80.30 km/hr

The train covers a distance of 1,531 kms from New Delhi to Howrah in 19 hours and 40 minutes.

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Duronto Express (Mumbai CST – Nagpur)

Rank: 18

Average speed: 80.06 km/hr

The train travels a distance of 838 kilometres from Mumbai to Nagpur in 11 hours.

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Duronto Express (Chennai to Nizamuddin)

Rank: 19

Average speed: 79.54 km/hr

The train travels 2,174 kilometres from Chennai to Nizamuddin in 27 hours and 54 minutes.

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Rajdhani Express (Ranchi – New Delhi)

Rank: 20

Average speed: 79.33 km/hr

The train travels a distance of 1,309 kilometres from Ranchi to New Delhi in 16 hours and 55 minutes.