Gatimaan Express turns 10 in India’s move to faster rail

The Gatimaan Express 10-year milestone marks a decade of service for India’s first semi-high-speed train. It also highlights its role in faster rail travel between Delhi and other destinations.

Gatimaan Express 10-year milestone

India’s shift toward faster rail services gathered pace with the launch of the Gatimaan Express. The train has now completed 10 years in operation. Since 2016, it has changed the pace of rail travel in the country. Also, it helped open the way for services such as the Vande Bharat Express.

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As reported by The Indian Express, Indian Railways marked 10 years since the launch of the Gatimaan Express. The anniversary dates back to April 5, 2016. That was when India introduced its first semi-high-speed train under the name Gatimaan Express. The service was flagged off from Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi. It initially ran between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Agra Cantt.

According to a Press Information Bureau release, the train could reach 160 kmph. That made it the fastest train in India at that time.

Route, speed and onboard features

At the time of its introduction, the Gatimaan Express ran between Delhi and Agra. The distance was roughly 188-200 km. With limited stoppages, the journey took about 100 minutes.

That shorter travel time made the Delhi-Agra rail connection more convenient for passengers. It also made train travel more attractive. That was true for tourists heading to Agra and for business travellers visiting the city.

Key details:

• Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin) to Jhansi
• Via: Agra Cantt.–Gwalior
• Maximum speed: 160 kmph
• Frequency: 6 days a week

The train had only a few stops. These included Delhi-Agra Canal Club station and Gandaghar Road station. In addition, it introduced onboard features. These included catering orders, free Wi-Fi and comfortable sleeper-class seats.

The Gatimaan Express showed what was possible with higher-speed rail travel in India. At the same time, it showed that:

• tracks could support faster trains
• demand existed for quicker services
• premium train operations could work in India

Current limits and the route to Jhansi

Inspired by the Gatimaan Express, Indian Railways introduced the Vande Bharat Express. It further expanded the scope of faster train travel in the country.

Still, the situation changed in recent years. The Gatimaan Express could not maintain its top speed on the full route. That top speed is 160 kmph. It can still run at that speed between Delhi and Agra. As The Economic Times reported when the service was extended, the limit on the section toward Jhansi has been 130 kmph until track-level upgrades are carried out.

Separately, the train continues to operate on the same route up to Jhansi. Meanwhile, the milestone also reflects changes Indian Railways made in train travel across the country. Gatimaan was followed by Vande Bharat. Bullet train service is expected next in India.

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