Indian Railways breaks speed barrier as train clocks 150 kmph in Dhanbad division

Indian Railways has crossed a new operational milestone, with a train reaching 150 kmph in the Dhanbad Division of the East Central Railway (ECR)—a significant leap beyond the current 130 kmph ceiling for premium services such as the Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat trains.

The speed was achieved during a window trailing inspection on the Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya–Koderma–Dhanbad section on December 13, reflecting the impact of sustained infrastructure modernization across the network. According to officials, the trial demonstrated not just higher speed potential but also exceptional ride stability.

Over the past 11 years, Indian Railways has undertaken extensive upgrades, including track strengthening, conversion to broad gauge, improved track geometry, and advanced signalling systems, aimed at safely supporting faster train operations. These measures have steadily increased the speed capability of several key routes.

In a striking illustration of the quality of upgrades, ECR said that even at 150 kmph, the water in a glass placed inside the coach remained completely still, underscoring the smoothness and robustness of the track and signalling systems.

“This is clear evidence of the excellent track structure, robust maintenance regime, and the high quality of state-of-the-art railway infrastructure in the Dhanbad Division,” the ECR said, attributing the superior ride quality to advanced processes, continuous monitoring, and safety-focused maintenance practices.

The development comes amid a broader push to raise train speeds nationwide. In a recent written reply in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said average train speeds depend on multiple factors, including maximum permissible speed of sections, track and curve geometry, gradients, topography, stoppages, line capacity utilisation and ongoing maintenance work.

He added that Vande Bharat services are already being operated at the maximum permissible speed of the sections on which they run, indicating that further speed gains will hinge on continued infrastructure upgrades.

The 150 kmph trial in Dhanbad signals that Indian Railways’ next phase of high-speed operations may soon move from planning to reality.