Express trains in India
India has a system of express passenger trains operated by Indian Railways and overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India. As of 2023, the Indian Railways maintains over 108,706 kilometres (67,547 mi) of tracks, spanning across 68,584 kilometres (42,616 mi) in route length, and operates nearly 3,000 express trains daily. Express trains are permitted to reach higher speeds and have limited stops than ordinary passenger trains. Any passenger train with an average speed higher than 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph) is considered super-fast.
As of 2023, India does not have any operational high-speed trains. The maximum operational speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) is achieved by Gatiman Express and Rani Kamalapati–Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express on the Tughlakabad–Agra section.
Earlier steam locomotive operated trains largely operated below 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph). With the introduction of electric locomotives in later 1920s and newer steam locomotives, speeds of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) were achieved. With the movement to AC traction in late 1950s and introduction of diesel locomotives, maximum speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) were achieved in the late 1960s. With the introduction of high power electric locomotives in the 1990s, operating speeds of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph) was achieved with further developments leading to speeds of maximum speeds of 160 km/h (99 mph) being realized in the early 2010s. Vande Bharat Express, an electric multiple unit run service introduced in 2019, is the fastest operational express train with a maximum permitted speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph).