At 180 kmph Vande Bharat is India's fastest train. Here's top 10 fastest trains in India

Indian Railways is one of the oldest and biggest train networks in the world. It is the bloodline that connects the country across vast geographic spread, cultural lines, language borders and political boundaries. 

Traveling by train is the best mode of transport, as it is the most enjoyable journey. One can see the beauty of nature, landscapes etc. Though, train journeys are long, but super fast trains have helped to lessen this shortcoming of traveling by train.

Here is a list of 10 fastest trains of India:

1. Vande Bharat Express aka Train 18 (New Delhi-Varanasi)

The Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, is a luxury all air-conditioned chair car and takes around eight hours to travel between Delhi and Varanasi, halting at only two stations en route – Kanpur and Prayagraj. 

 
The Vande Bharat Express is India's fastest train, with a capacity to attain a speed of over 180 kmph during it trial runs. On the Delhi-Varanasi route, however, the section speed restrictions are in place which does not allow the train to exceed a maximum speed of 130 kmph. 

2. Gatimaan Express (New Delhi-Agra)

Arguably faster than the fastest train, Gatimaan Express is a semi high-speed train that runs between New Delhi and Agra with the maximum speed of 160 km per hour. The train takes a travel time of 105 minutes to cover 200 KM journey. Even as it's maximum speed is less than Vande Bharat Express, due to lack of speed restrictions, it is allowed to touch higher speed. 

The fare of this train service is 25 per cent more normal fare of Shatabdi Express.

It boasts of 12 state-of-the-art coaches. The train has Executive Class and Chair Car category of seats and also a catering facility. An eight-inch LCD is also fixed behind each seat.

3. New Delhi- Bhopal Shatabdi Express

Shatabdi Express is one of the fastest and prestigious trains. But the one that runs between New Delhi and Bhopal touches the top speed of 91 kmh, making it the third fastest train. The train was introduced in 1988 and untill the inauguration of Gatimaan Express in 2016, it was the fastest train in India.
 
4. Mumbai- New Delhi Rajdhani Express

Rajdhani Express is a super fast train introduced in India in 1972. The Mumbai- New Delhi Rajdhani Express is currently fourth fastest train in India. Earlier, it used to cover the distance of 1385 kilometers in each direction in about 19 hours and 5 minutes. 

However, after the electrification of the route, the train has improved its speed and now it takes 15 hours 50 minutes at an average speed of 90.46 km/h (excluding halts).

5. Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto

Duronto Express is a non-stop train connecting West Bengal to national capital New Delhi. There are no technical halts in the train journey. It is considered as the fastest and most time-efficient train on the Grand Chord route between these two cities.

It runs at an average speed of 91.13 kmh. After starting from Sealdah, train only stops at Dhanbad in Bihar and Chandauli and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.  

6. New Delhi-Kanpur Shatabdi Express

 

Also called Kanpur Reverse Shatabdi, it follows the reverse timetable of Lucknow Shatabdi, it was named as Kanpur Reverse Shatabdi. This train was introduced in 2009. The reason behind the introduction of this train was the excessive passenger load from Kanpur Central that in turn increased the demand of the train.
 
The maximum distance the train covers is of 441 kms from New Delhi to Kanpur in four hours and 44 minutes. Its average speed is about 89.63 km/hr.

7. New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express

New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express between Delhi and Kolkata has the distinguished honour of being first Rajdhani train. It is considered as the most senior of all the Rajdhanis and gets the highest priority over any train.
 
The Howrah Rajdhani Express was first introduced in 1969 and left New Delhi station for Howrah station to cover a distance of 1,445 km in 17 hours 20 minutes. The train is considered as the seventh fastest in India, and also the first train to have a wi-fi service. It runs with an average speed of 88.21 km/hr.

8. New Delhi-Howrah Duronto Express

Another fast train on Delhi-Kolkata route, New Delhi-Howrah Duronto Express train belongs to the Eastern Zone of Indian Railways and it uses the Grand Chord route.

There is no unreserved seating and no stoppages, only a few technical halts for carrying food and change of pilot staff. This train is fully accommodated with the latest Hybrid-LHB Coaches.
 
It covers a distance of 1,441 kilometers in 17 hours and 10 minutes and its average speed is 87.06 km/hr.

9. New Delhi-Allahabad Duronto Express

The Allahabad Duronto Express is a superfast express train of the Indian Railways connecting New Delhi to Allahabad Junction and it had its first inaugural run in 2012. It is the fastest train between Mumbai and Allahabad with a travel time of 19 hours 20 minutes with an average speed of 86.85 km/hr.

10. Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express

 
The Sealdah Rajdhani Express connects Sealdah (Kolkata) and Delhi. After Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto Express, it is the second fastest train on the Sealdah-Delhi sector. This train operates with number 12313 from Sealdah(Kolkata) to New Delhi Railway Station and as train number 12314 in the reverse direction.

The average speed of this train is 87.06 km/hr and it covers a distance of 1458 kilometers in 17 hours and 30 minute.