Premium

Indian Railways hits new milestone; train reaches 150 kmph speed in Dhanbad Division

Indian Railways speed increase: The national transporter has been continously working on upgrading track infrastructure, converting lines to broad gauge and enhancing signal systems to support higher speeds on the route.

Indian Railways sets record speed of 150 kmph in Dhanbad Division (Image: East Central Railway)

Indian Railways speed upgrade: Indian Railways (IR) has set a new milestone by reaching a speed of 150 kmph in the Dhanbad Division of East Central Railway (ECR). The national transporter has been continously working on upgrading track infrastructure, converting lines to broad gauge and enhancing signal systems to support higher speeds on the route. Currently, trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and even Vande Bharat are limited to a maximum permissible speed of 130 kmph.

Also Read | Indian Railways LHB coach production rises 18% in FY26; over 4,200 coaches built so far

Over the past 11 years, Indian Railways has focused on upgrading and improving its railway tracks to enhance speed capabilities. These efforts have been part of a broader strategy to modernize infrastructure and increase the potential speed of trains across the network. As a result of above measures, there has been significant increase in speed potential of the tracks.

Also Read | Net zero carbon emissions target: Indian Railways electrifies 99.2% of broad gauge network

Indian Railways speed record

The East Central Railway (ECR) zone set a new record by achieving a speed of 150 kmph during a window trailing inspection of the Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya-Koderma-Dhanbad rail section on December 13, 2025. Remarkably, even as the train reached this impressive speed, the “water in the glass remained completely still,” highlighting the smoothness and stability of the track and signaling upgrades.

Also Read | Bharat Gaurav trains occupancy: How are trains performing? Railway Minister responds

“This is clear evidence of the excellent track structure, robust track maintenance system, and high quality of the state-of-the-art railway infrastructure of the Dhanbad Division. The superior ride quality is a result of the advanced processes, continuous maintenance management, and safety-oriented work practices adopted by the Dhanbad Division,” the ECR said in a statement.

Indian Railways increase train speed

Recently, in a written statement in Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: “The average speed of the train services, including Vande Bharat services, is dependent inter alia on the Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS) of the section, track structure, geometry along the route including gradients and curves, topographical conditions, number of stoppages enroute, line capacity utilisation of sections, maintenance works in the section etc.”

The minister also added that the Vande Bharat train services have been charted at the Maximum Permissible Speed of the respective sections over which the trains are being operated.

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...