Top 5 Fastest Trains in India for Travel in 2026

Train travel remains one of the most convenient and affordable ways to explore India. Over the years, Indian Railways has introduced faster and more comfortable services that have significantly reduced travel time across major routes. Whether you're planning a short intercity journey or travelling hundreds of kilometres overnight, choosing the right train can make a big difference.

This guide covers the fastest trains in India, including their top speeds, routes, journey times, and onboard experience. From the modern Vande Bharat Express to the iconic Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Gatimaan, and Tejas Express, you'll find everything you need to know before booking your next train journey.

Which Fastest Train Should You Book for Your Journey?

The fastest trains in India are designed for different kinds of journeys. While speed is an important factor, it isn't always the only one that matters. The best train for your trip will depend on your destination, total travel time, onboard facilities, and whether you're travelling during the day or overnight. Before booking, it's helpful to compare more than just a train's top speed.

While these are the fastest trains in India, they don't operate on every railway route in the country. Their availability depends on the cities you're travelling between. For instance, Vande Bharat and Gatimaan Express are ideal for shorter daytime journeys, whereas Rajdhani Express is better suited for long-distance overnight travel. If comfort is your priority, trains such as Vande Bharat and Tejas Express offer modern onboard amenities, while Rajdhani provides the added convenience of sleeper accommodation for longer trips.

Before booking, it's worth checking the total journey time rather than looking only at the train's top speed. In some cases, a train with a slightly lower maximum speed may get you to your destination just as quickly because of fewer stops or a more efficient route. Comparing travel duration, class availability, and fares can help you choose the most suitable option for your journey.

1. Vande Bharat Express

The Vande Bharat Express is currently the fastest train in India by both maximum speed and design specification. Built entirely in India under the Make in India programme, it is a self-propelled semi-high-speed train with a maximum operating speed of 180 km/h, though average journey speeds across current routes sit between 83 and 100 km/h depending on the corridor.
What distinguishes the Vande Bharat from older fast trains is not just the speed but the on-board experience. Automatic doors, rotating seats, diffused lighting, and onboard wifi across most services represent a significant step up from conventional stocks. The train does not have sleeper class; it is a chair-car day service, which makes it most useful for routes where the journey fits within a single day.
Current Vande Bharat routes include New Delhi to Varanasi, New Delhi to Katra, Mumbai to Gandhinagar, and Chennai to Mysuru, among several others. The network is expanding, and new routes have been added progressively since the first service launched in 2019. For travellers measuring the fastest railway trains by the overall journey experience rather than pure speed, Vande Bharat is the current benchmark on Indian Railways. If you're curious about how India's semi-high-speed trains compare globally, explore the fastest trains in the world and discover the remarkable rail networks redefining modern train travel.

2. Tejas Express

The Tejas Express sits in a similar tier to the Shatabdi in terms of speed (maximum 130 km/h) but represents a different model for Indian Railways in terms of operation. Several Tejas services are run by IRCTC directly rather than zonal railways, which has allowed a different approach to on-board service standards and punctuality management.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad and Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express services are the most prominent, both offering a noticeably improved on-board experience compared to conventional express trains. Automatic doors, entertainment screens at seats, and a more consistent food service reflect what the Tejas was designed to demonstrate: that a commercially operated train on Indian Railways can function differently. For travellers on these specific corridors, the Tejas is among the better, fastest railway train options for daytime travel, both for speed and for comfort.

3. Gatimaan Express

The Gatimaan Express holds the distinction of being India's first semi-high-speed train, launched in 2016 between Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi and Agra Cantonment. It operates at a maximum speed of 160 km/h and covers the 188-kilometre journey in approximately 100 minutes, an average speed that remains among the highest for any train in the country on that corridor.
The service runs once daily in each direction and is positioned as a premium offering, with on-board meals included in the ticket price and a higher standard of seating than standard express trains. It is one of the more practical fast train India routes for travellers, combining Delhi and Agra in a single-day trip, as it allows meaningful time at the destination before the return service. The Gatimaan does not run on Fridays, which is worth confirming before planning around it.

4. Rajdhani Express

The Rajdhani Express trains have been the flagship of Indian Railways for over five decades, and on several corridors they remain among the fastest options available. Operating at speeds of up to 130 to 140 km/h, Rajdhani services connect New Delhi to major cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar, among others. Travellers departing from the capital can also explore some of the top train journeys from Delhi, offering scenic routes, comfortable travel, and convenient connectivity across India.
What makes the Rajdhani relevant in a fastest-trains list is not peak speed but consistent performance. These are overnight services that cover enormous distances  Delhi to Mumbai is approximately 1,384 kilometres, with journey times that remain competitive even against Vande Bharat services on equivalent routes. Meals are included in the ticket price across all classes. The Rajdhani Express trains are also among the most available, fastest trains in India for travellers booking at short notice, as they run multiple times weekly on most routes and have a larger quota of available berths than premium services like Vande Bharat.

5. Shatabdi Express

Shatabdi Express trains were India's premier day-travel service before the Vande Bharat arrived, and several routes still hold their own in terms of speed and coverage. Operating at maximum speeds of 130 to 150 km/h, Shatabdi services connect major cities with surrounding destinations: Bengaluru to Chennai, New Delhi to Chandigarh, and New Delhi to Bhopal, making them a practical choice for business travellers and day-trippers.
The New Bhopal Shatabdi, running between New Delhi and Habibganj, is among the fastest in the Shatabdi fleet, with an average speed that ranks it alongside the better-performing high-speed trains in India on comparable corridors. Shatabdi trains include meals and refreshments in the ticket price and operate in chair-car configuration only, with no sleeper options. Like Gatimaan, they are day services and do not run on certain days of the week depending on the route.

Is the Bullet Train in India Operational Yet?

No, the Bullet Train in India is not operational yet. However, it is expected to become the country's fastest rail service once it begins operations.

The Bullet Train in India, formally known as the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor, is currently under construction and will operate at speeds of up to 320 km/h when complete. Built using Japan's Shinkansen technology, it is expected to cover the approximately 508-kilometre route in around two hours, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities.

Construction timelines have shifted since the project began, and a partial opening on certain sections is expected before the full corridor becomes operational. Until then, the fastest trains in India, including Vande Bharat Express, Gatimaan Express, Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, and Tejas Express, continue to offer fast and comfortable travel across several routes.

When the Bullet Train in India becomes operational, it is expected to set a new benchmark for train travel in the country and redefine train speed records in India.

What Should You Know Before Booking the Fastest Trains in India?

Vande Bharat Express and Gatimaan Express tickets fill up quickly on popular routes, especially during weekends and public holidays. Booking two to three weeks in advance is recommended for confirmed seats, particularly in Executive Class on Vande Bharat.

Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express are generally easier to book at shorter notice, although festive seasons can affect availability across all Indian Railways services. Tatkal tickets are available on most of these trains but are usually priced higher than regular bookings.Complete your Train ticket booking on EaseMyTrip to compare schedules, check seat availability across premium trains like Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Tejas, and Gatimaan, and reserve your preferred class with ease.

FAQs

Q: Which is the fastest train in India currently in service?
Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train in India in regular service with a maximum operating speed of 180 km/h. It runs on several routes across the country, including New Delhi to Varanasi and Mumbai to Gandhinagar. While its average speed across full journeys varies by corridor, it consistently outperforms other services on comparable routes and represents the current ceiling for speed on Indian Railways until the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor opens.

Q: Is the Rajdhani Express faster than the Vande Bharat?
The maximum permissible speed of Rajdhani Express trains is 130 to 140 km/h, which is less than Vande Bharat’s 180 km/h. However, Rajdhani services cover overnight long-distance routes where sleeper accommodation is available, making them a different kind of service rather than a direct competitor. For travellers covering routes of 1,000 kilometres or more overnight, the Rajdhani remains among the fastest trains in India for that category of journey. 

Q: When will the bullet train in India be operational?
The bullet train in India, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor, is currently under construction. A partial section is expected to open before the full corridor becomes operational, though timelines have been revised since the project began. The service will run at speeds of up to 320 km per hour and will take about two hours to complete the entire journey, setting new records for train speed records in India, far exceeding any existing service on completion. 

Q: Are Shatabdi Express trains still worth booking given the Vande Bharat expansion?
Shatabdi Express trains are still a good option on routes where Vande Bharat trains have not yet been introduced and often offer similar travel times at cheaper fare points. The Shatabdi fleet is also more established with regular schedules and wider coverage. On routes where both run, Vande Bharat is usually a faster and more modern experience. But where the newer service has not been introduced, Shatabdi is still a reliable choice.

Q: How can EaseMyTrip help book the fastest trains in India?
EaseMyTrip's train booking platform allows travellers to search by route and filter search results by journey duration, making it easy to find which of the fastest railway trains are available between any two stations. The platform shows Vande Bharat, Rajdhani Express trains, Shatabdi, Tejas and Gatimaan services along with class availability and current fares, eliminating the need to cross-check multiple sources. The AI-enabled alerts can also notify travellers of availability on high-demand services, such as Vande Bharat bookings on popular corridors, where confirmed seats are snapped up quickly.