150 kmph Speed Test: Indian Railways Sets New Milestone in Dhanbad Division
Something unusual happened on the tracks in Jharkhand last week, though most passengers never noticed it. During a routine inspection run in the Dhanbad Division of East Central Indian Railway, a train briefly touched 150 kmph. No fanfare. No special service. Just an inspection window where engineers pushed the section to see what it could handle.
The run took place on December 13 along the Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya–Koderma–Dhanbad route, a stretch that has quietly undergone years of strengthening work.
Not a Regular Passenger Run of Indian Railways
Railway officials made it clear this was not a commercial service. The speed was achieved during a window trailing inspection, a process used to test track behaviour, alignment, and signalling under controlled conditions.
The train did not jump to 150 kmph at once. It increased gradually. Engineers were watching every parameter: vibration, stability, and braking response. One small detail stood out.
Even at peak speed, officials said, the water kept in a glass inside the coach remained still. Among railway staff, that’s a quick visual check. It tells you the ride quality is holding up.
Years of Work Behind the Test
The milestone didn’t come out of nowhere.
Indian Railways has been working for years on strengthening conventional tracks rather than just announcing new high-speed projects. In sections like Dhanbad, this has meant better ballast, tighter track geometry, upgraded signalling and constant monitoring. Before booking the ticket, check the train schedule and it will help to make your journey hassle-free.
Much of this work happens without public attention. Trains keep running. Passengers rarely notice what changes below the wheels.
According to East Central Railway, the inspection result reflects the quality of infrastructure now in place in the division.
In its statement, the zone said the smooth run was evidence of strong track structure, robust maintenance systems, and modern railway infrastructure. Officials also pointed to continuous monitoring and safety-focused practices as key reasons behind the stable ride.
How Fast Do Trains Usually Go?
For context, most premium trains in India, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat services, are currently allowed a top speed of 130 kmph on regular routes. Tracking your train you will get to know the time, speed and which station it reaches. Train tracking app will help you to tract and give the information.
That limit isn’t about engine power. It’s about what the track and signalling can safely support day after day, in all weather conditions. The Dhanbad inspection run crossed that limit briefly, under supervision, to test whether the section is nearing readiness for higher speeds.
What Determines Speed on Any Section
The issue of train speeds has also come up in Parliament.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that average train speeds depend on several factors working together.
These include the Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS) of a section, track geometry, curves and gradients, terrain, number of stops, line capacity usage and ongoing maintenance blocks.
He also stated that Vande Bharat trains are scheduled strictly according to the MPS of the sections they run on. Speed charts are drawn with infrastructure limits in mind, not ambition.
Why This Test Matters
Railway officials see the 150 kmph run as a technical checkpoint, not a headline moment.
It shows that certain conventional routes, after sustained upgrades, are approaching the standards needed for faster operations. It also gives engineers real data not simulations on how the track behaves at higher speeds.
No announcement has been made about increasing passenger train speeds on the section yet. That decision would require further approvals, repeated trials, and operational planning.
Indian Railways is not only talking about speed. In places like the Dhanbad Division, it is testing it quietly, carefully, and step by step.
For passengers, the impact may not be immediate. But as more sections undergo similar work, shorter travel times on existing routes may slowly become a reality.