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List of high-speed railway lines in India

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Main article: High-speed rail in India

India currently does not have any high-speed rail lines operational, but has several lines planned, one of which is currently under construction. The following article lists all the lines in various stages of completion.[1] For conventional lines in India, see List of railway lines in India.

Map showing proposed high speed corridors

Classification

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The Indian Ministry of Railways has classified railway line speeds into seven categories:[2][3][4]

  • Conventional lines: The routes which support an operational speed of less than 110 km/h (68 mph) are conventional rail lines.
  • Group E lines: Support less than 100 km/h (62 mph)
  • Group D lines: Support up to 100 km/h (62 mph)
  • Group C lines: These lines are not categorised according to speed but rather comprise suburban railway lines, with speeds up to 130 km/h (81 mph) on some routes.
  • Group B lines: The routes which support an operational speed between 110 and 130 km/h (68 and 81 mph) are classified as Group B lines.
  • Group A lines: The routes that support the speeds between 130 and 160 km/h (81 and 99 mph) are classified as Group A lines.
  • High-speed lines: The routes that support speeds beyond semi-high speeds are considered as high-speed lines.

Overview

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High-speed rail lines in India[5]
Corridor Speed Length Track gauge Status Year Reference
Delhi-Varanasi 320 km/h (200 mph) 865 km (537 mi) Standard Gauge DPR under preparation 2031 [6]
Delhi–Amritsar 320 km/h (200 mph) 480 km (300 mi) Standard Gauge DPR under preparation 2051 [6]
Delhi–Ahmedabad 320 km/h (200 mph) 886 km (551 mi) Standard Gauge Awaiting Approval 2031 [6]
Amritsar–Jammu 320 km/h (200 mph) 190 km (120 mi) Standard Gauge Proposed 2051 [5]
Varanasi–Howrah 320 km/h (200 mph) 711 km (442 mi) Standard Gauge DPR under preparation 2031 [7]
Patna–Guwahati 320 km/h (200 mph) 850 km (530 mi) Standard Gauge Proposed 2051 [5]
Mumbai–Ahmedabad 320 km/h (200 mph) 508.18 km (315.77 mi) Standard Gauge Under Construction 2028 [8]
Mumbai–Nagpur 320 km/h (200 mph) 736 km (457 mi) Standard Gauge Awaiting Approval 2051 [5]
Mumbai–Hyderabad 350 km/h (220 mph) 711 km (442 mi) Standard Gauge Awaiting Approval 2051 [9]
Pune–Nashik 200 km/h (125 mph) 235.15 km (146.12 mi) Standard Gauge Approved 2027 [10]
Ahmedabad–Rajkot 220 km/h (140 mph) 225 km (140 mi) Standard Gauge Proposed TBD [11]
Nagpur-Varanasi 320 km/h (200 mph) 855 km (531 mi) Standard Gauge Proposed 2041 [5]
Chennai–Mysuru 320 km/h (200 mph) 435 km (270 mi) Standard Gauge DPR under preparation 2051 [5]
Hyderabad–Bengaluru 320 km/h (200 mph) 618 km (384 mi) Standard Gauge Proposed 2041 [5]
Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod 200 km/h (125 mph) 529.45 km (328.98 mi) Standard Gauge Awaiting Approval TBD [12]


Operational semi-high-speed railway lines
Route Speed Length Gauge Type Opened
Tughlakabad–Agra 160 km/h (99 mph) 174 km (108 mi) Broad Upgraded 2016[13]
Sahibabad–Meerut south 160 km/h (99 mph) 42 km (26 mi) Standard New 2023[14]

300–350 km/h

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Mumbai-Ahmedabad

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Main article: Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor

Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is the first of the twelve lines proposed and also the first one to be under construction, it connects India's economic hub Mumbai with the city of Ahmedabad. The 508.18 km (315.77 mi) stretch which is being developed with financial and technical support from Japan, when completed, will take about two hours to traverse, four hours quicker than regular rail which takes six hours and fifteen minutes.[15]

Delhi-Ahmedabad

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Main article: Delhi–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor

The Delhi-Ahmedabad corridor is part of the greater Delhi-Mumbai corridor and once completed, will connect Mumbai, the financial capital of India with New Delhi, the capital of India, and will bring down the travel time from existing twelve-hour journey on regular rail to three and a half hours. On 16 April 2024, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 886 km (551 mi) corridor was approved by Indian Railways and as of April 2024, it is awaiting approval from the central government.[16]

Delhi-Varanasi

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Main article: Delhi–Varanasi high-speed rail corridor

The Delhi-Varanasi corridor of 813-kilometre (505 mi) length will connect Varanasi to Delhi through twelve stations via Lucknow. Depending on the cost feasibility, a spur route to Ayodhya may also be planned as a part of the network. The entire section is part of the greater Delhi-Kolkata corridor. Upon completion, it would take three and a half hours to reach Varanasi while existing fastest service of Vande Bharat takes eight hours.[17]

Chennai-Mysuru

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Main article: Chennai–Mysuru high-speed rail corridor

The Chennai-Mysuru corridor via Bengaluru is set to be southern India's first high-speed corridor, the 435 km (270 mi) corridor will cut the current six and a half hour journey down to just two hours and twenty-five minutes.[18] As of March 2024, preliminary works involving route alignment and environamental impact assessment had been completed and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey, alignment design, and balance activities were under way.[19]

Mumbai-Nagpur

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Main article: Mumbai–Nagpur high-speed rail corridor

The 742 km (461 mi) long Mumbai-Nagpur corridor lies entirely within the state of Maharashtra. The DPR for the project was completed in 2022 and was submitted to the central government for approval. Most of the corridor is set to run along the Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway, thereby reducing the costs of land acquisition. Once completed, it will bring the travel time from the existing twelve hours to three and a half hours.[20]

Mumbai-Hyderabad

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Main article: Mumbai–Hyderabad high-speed rail corridor

The 711 km (442 mi) long corridor connecting Mumbai with Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, has its DPR currently under preparation. There are plans for a Navi Mumbai terminal integrated with the under construction Navi Mumbai International Airport. However, the project has seen a setback after NHSRCL delayed the submission of DPR. When completed, the corridor is set to bring the current fifteen hours of travel time down to three and a half hours.[21]

Varanasi-Howrah

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Main article: Varanasi–Howrah high-speed rail corridor

The Varanasi-Howrah section is part of the greater Delhi-Howrah corridor connecting Delhi with Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. The 711 km (442 mi) journey would take around three hours to complete, five hours quicker than existing Rajdhani service which takes eight hours. Indian Railways had prepared the DPR for seven more corridors, that included this section. However, as of June 2024, the DPR is yet to be approved by the government.[22]

Hyderabad-Bengaluru

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Main article: Hyderabad–Bengaluru high-speed rail corridor

The Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridor is a proposed 618 km (384 mi) long corridor, connecting Hyderabad with Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. The existing fastest service of Vande Bharat Express between the cities takes around eight hours to complete, while the proposed high-speed service would take two and a half hours to complete, saving five and a half hours. The studies for soil testing, property, and land acquisition requirements are set to commence and culminate into the preparation of DPR.[23]

Nagpur-Varanasi

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Main article: Nagpur–Varanasi high-speed rail corridor

The planned Nagpur-Varanasi corridor is 760 km (470 mi) long and the first one through Madhya Pradesh, linking Jabalpur with Nagpur and Varanasi. This corridor is among the seven other corridors where Indian Railways had initiated the preparations of DPR.[24]

Delhi-Amritsar

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Main article: Delhi–Amritsar high-speed rail corridor

The DPR for 459 km (285 mi) long Delhi-Amritsar corridor is currently under preparation. When completed it will take under two hours to reach Amritsar from New Delhi. After submissions of objections if any and approval, the land acquisition would commence under the RFCT LARR Act 2013.[25]

Patna-Guwahati

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Main article: Patna–Guwahati high-speed rail corridor

The 850 km (530 mi) long proposed Patna-Guwahati corridor is the first corridor connecting Northeastern India. It will take around three and a half hours to complete the journey, eleven and a half hours quicker than existing fastest service of Rajdhani on the regular rail route.[26]

Amritsar-Jammu

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Main article: Amritsar–Jammu high-speed rail corridor

The 190 km (120 mi) long Amritsar-Jammu corridor is set to be Kashmir's first high-speed rail. The proposed corridor will connect Jammu to the Indian high-speed rail network via Pathankot.[26]

200–250 km/h

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Ahmedabad-Rajkot (220 km/h)

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Main article: Ahmedabad - Rajkot - Jamnagar - Dwarka High-Speed Passenger Corridor

In 2021, the Railways had prepared and submitted the DPR of 225 km (140 mi) long Ahmedabad-Rajkot corridor connecting Gujrat's capital with one of its major city, Rajkot. But the project has been stalled for unknown reasons.[27]

Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod (200 km/h)

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Main article: Silver Line (K-Rail)

The 532 km (331 mi) Silver Line project connecting Kerala's Thrivananthapuram to Kasargod was proposed in 2019, but was temporarily halted in 2024 by the Kerala state government until central government give approval. The existing service of Vande Bharat takes about eight hours, while the Silver Line is slated to cut the journey time by half to four hours. A week after the railway ministry had shown doubts if the state government had abandoned the project, Kerala wrote a letter to the central government seeking approval in February 2024.[28]

Pune-Nashik (200 km/h)

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Main article: Pune–Nashik rail line

The Pune-Nashik high-speed rail project was initially 235 km (146 mi) in length, but after the addition of a stop in Shirdi, the length was further increased by 33 km (21 mi), making it a stretch of 268 km (167 mi). Upon completion this distance would be traversed in two and a half hours. The progress was stalled after an update in the alignment and it is currently awaiting for an approval from Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA).[29]

Semi-high-speed lines

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Tughlakabad-Agra (160 km/h)

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On 4 July 2014, Indian Railways conducted a trial run of a passenger train on the upgraded broad-gauge section between New-Delhi and Agra at speeds of 160 km/h (99 mph) along half of the 200 km (120 mi) long route.[30] Following which Gatimaan Express was launched two years later in 2016 attaining the maximum speed on 174 km (108 mi) of the route between Tughlakabad and Agra Cantonment stations in Delhi and Agra respectively.[31]

Sahibabad-Meerut south (160 km/h)

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Main article: Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System

The new standard gauge railway between New Delhi and Meerut was envisioned under RapidX project to connect Delhi with its satellite cities. In 2023, a priority section of the line between Sahibabad and Duhai was opened, with the operations extending up to Meerut south in 2024. The service is operated at a maximum speed of 160 km/h on the existing 42 km (26 mi) section of the line.[32]

Diamond quadrilateral

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Main article: Diamond Quadrilateral
Potential Diamond Quadrilateral route map.

Diamond quadrilateral is an ambitious plan from India to connect its major cities of New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai via a high-speed rail network. Sections of this project are either already under construction or proposed.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Railway Budget 2021: Indian Railways to focus on new bullet train networks in coming years?". The Times of India. 23 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Railway Minister Launches High Speed Rail Corporation of India Limited (HSRC)". Disha Diary. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Indian Railways Classification of Lines as A , B , C , D , E - Railways FAQ - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Classification of Railway Lines in India". BrainKart. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Railway Budget 2021: Indian Railways to focus on new bullet train networks in coming years?". The Times of India. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Agarwal, Anshu (31 January 2021). "Delhi likely to get 2 stations under 3 proposed Bullet train projects". Business Standard India. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Growever Wins Varanasi – Howrah design". Metrorail. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Japan Is Selling Bullet Trains to India". Bloomberg News. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  9. ^ "High speed rail corridor: Travel time from Mumbai to Hyderabad and Nagpur to reduce by 50 percent". Mumbai Mirror. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Big boost for city as Pune-Nashik high-speed rail project gets Centre's in-principle approval". Hindustan Times. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Ahmedabad-Rajkot new rail link approved; to help Saurashtra region avail Bullet Train services". The Financial Express. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  12. ^ Shah, Narendra (23 December 2022). "A Silverline Project to connect entire Kerala". Metro Rail News. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Delhi-Agra at 160 kph: 10 points about Gatimaan, India's fastest train". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  14. ^ "PM launches India's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh" (Press release). Government of India. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  15. ^ "JICA presents draft report on bullet train project to joint committee". timesofindia-economictimes. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Ahmedabad-Delhi bullet train project: Total travel time, proposed stations, and other details". The Economic Times. 16 April 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Delhi to Agra bullet train every hour might turn into a reality by 2029!". Times of India. 27 October 2021.
  18. ^ "From 6.5 To 2.5 Hrs, Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru High-Speed Rail To Cut Down Travel Time Drastically". Times Now. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  19. ^ Yathiraju (6 March 2024). "Bullet Train project sends farming families into a tizzy in Karnataka". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Nagpur-Mumbai Bullet Train Project Advances with Detailed Project Report". Nagpur Today : Nagpur News. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Uncertainty Looms Over Mumbai-Pune-Hyderabad Bullet Train Project As Detailed Project Report Delayed". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  22. ^ Excelsior, Daily (10 February 2024). "Railways undertakes feasibility studies for high-speed rail on 3 Golden Quadrilateral routes: Govt". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Hyderabad may get bullet train connectivity with Mumbai and Bengaluru". The Economic Times. 27 July 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Indian Railways conducts feasibility studies for high-speed rail on THESE three Golden Quadrilateral routes – Details here". Financialexpress. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Proposed Delhi-Chd-Asr rail corridor to pass through 43 villages in Mohali". The Times of India. 30 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Indian Railways Plans Four New Bullet Train Corridors Connecting 9 Cities". News18. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Regional rail connectivity projects fail to gain steam". The Times of India. 25 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  28. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (7 February 2024). "Kerala writes to Centre again seeking approval for SilverLine project". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 June 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  29. ^ "Maharashtra Govt Boosts Funding For Nashik-Pune Semi-High-Speed Rail Corridor". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Delhi to Agra in 99 minutes; train hits 160 kmph on trial run". Times of India. 4 July 2014.
  31. ^ "Delhi-Agra at 160 kph: 10 points about Gatimaan, India's fastest train". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Rapid Rail to run between Delhi-NCR to Meerut from today–Know details". India TV. 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  33. ^ Address by The President of India to the Joint sitting of Parliament 2014 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014
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