India is set to get its fastest train that will cover a distance of 195 km between New Delhi and Agra in 105 minutes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the semi high-speed rail service soon.
The train is expected to start from New Delhi at 8 am and reach Agra at 9.45 am. On its journey back, the train will start from Agra at 5.30 pm and reach Delhi at 7.15 pm.
The trials for Gatimaan Express, which will be able to touch a top speed of 160 kilometres per hour, have been completed and Indian Railway officials are reportedly working on a date to officially launch the service.
The sixth and final trial was completed on 2 June during which the train reached a speed of 160 kmph but covered the distance in 115 minutes, TOI reported.
"The clearance from CRS is expected any time and we are gearing up to launch the train. Plans are afoot to have the PM flag off the train in the second week of this month," a senior railway official said, according to the daily.
The Indian high speed train comes equipped with a 5,400HP electric locomotive engine and has 12 modern coaches. The train will have no stoppages in between.
The TOI report said the fare for Gatimaan Express will be 25% more than Shatabdi Express, currently fastest train in India.
The one-way fare for air-conditioned chair car will be ₹690, and for the executive class, it will be ₹1,365.
The fastest Indian train is the New Delhi- Bhopal Shatabdi Express running at a top speed of 91 kmph.
The Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto, which operates between West Bengal and the national capital New Delhi, is the second fastest.
At present, China operates the world's fastest commercial train - maglev, which hit a top speed of 431 kilometres per hour on a route through Shanghai, according to CNN.
However, a new record was set by Japan Railway's maglev train, which travelled at 603 km per hour during an experimental run in April this year.
