Were Rajdhani trains faster in 1973? The answer may surprise you

Rajdhani express trains became the status symbol of India over time but has the speed of the premium trains reduced over time?

Rajdhani Express: When Indian Railways first introduced the Rajdhani Express on the Howrah-Delhi route in 1969, it was a proud moment for the country. Considered a symbol of luxury and speed at that time, Rajdhani express trains became the status symbol of India over time. However, five decades later, the dream of real high-speed trains in India remains unfulfilled. Moreover, it is often said that Rajdhani trains used to run faster in 1973 but their speed got reduced overtime. Here is what you need to know about the speed of Rajdhani Express over decades.

Speed of Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani express?

The Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani Express completed the journey in 17 hours 20 minutes, with a maximum speed of 120 km/h and an average speed of 84 km/h in 1973. In 2025, the same journey takes 17 hours 15 minutes, while the maximum speed has increased to 130 km/h, but the average speed remained stuck at the same 84 km/h. That is, even in half a century, the average speed improvement was almost zero, a report carried by the Business Standard said.

Speed update of Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani express?

The Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express has made some progress. It took 19 hours 5 minutes in 1975, which has dropped to 15 hours 32 minutes in 2025. The average speed is still only 89 km/h, which is even slower than regional trains in Europe. The situation of the Chennai-Delhi Rajdhani is even more dismal. The total time of premier train has increased rather than decreased from 1995 to 2025, from 28 hours 15 minutes to 28 hours 35 minutes.

Story highlights:

1. Here is a speed comparison of Rajdhani express trains.
2. It has been observed that the average speed of Rajdhani express trains has remained same.
3. Although the maximum speed of Rajdhani express trains has increased over time, the average has decreased.

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What about high-speed rail in other countries?

In contrast, high-speed rail in countries like Japan, France, Germany and China runs at an average speed of 250–350 km/h. India’s Vande Bharat Express is also limited to an average of 82–95 km/h. This comparison shows that the speed of Indian Railways has almost stagnated since the 1973 Rajdhani to today.