Delhi-Howrah Rail Route to hit 160 kmph: Travel Time to Drop by 5 Hours
Indian Railways is set to transform travel on the Delhi-Howrah route under the Mission Raftaar initiative. The goal is to run trains at a speed of 160 km/h, which will reduce the journey time from 18 hours to just 12-13 hours. This project is part of a larger plan to modernize the country’s most important rail corridors and provide a world-class travel experience to passengers.
📰: New Mokama Rail Bridge to Open by June 2026, Trains to Run at 160 Kmph।
Major Infrastructure and Safety Upgrades
The project involves a complete overhaul of the existing infrastructure to handle high-speed operations safely. Automatic signaling is already functional on the 760 km Ghaziabad to Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction stretch. To ensure safety at high speeds, the Kavach system is being installed to prevent collisions. Additionally, safety walls and crash barriers are being built along the tracks to keep animals and unauthorized people away from the high-speed trains.
Key Highlights of Mission Speed
Recent trials have shown promising results for the project. On March 25, 2026, a high-speed trial run at 180 km/h was successfully completed on the DDU-Gaya-Pradhankhanta section. This trial assessed the capacity of the infrastructure and the tracks to handle speeds even higher than the target. The project is expected to be fully ready by March 2026.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Target Route | Delhi to Howrah (1450 km) |
| Target Speed | 160 km/h |
| Recent Trial Speed | 180 km/h (March 25, 2026) |
| Estimated Cost | 6974.50 Crore Rupees |
| Target Completion | March 2026 |
| New Travel Time | 12 to 13 hours |
| Safety Systems | Kavach and Automatic Signaling |