Most Shatabdi Express trains travel at speeds that typically fall between 62 and 81 miles per hour, according to the Indian Railways Guide. The fastest of the Shatabdi trains is the Bhopal Shatabdi Express, which reaches a maximum speed of 93 miles per hour, making it the fastest train in the country, according to the Indian Railways Guide. Although Shatabdi trains are fast for India, they fall short of the fastest trains in several other countries. For instance, Japan, France and China each have passenger trains that reach peak speeds exceeding 300 miles per hour.
All Shatabdi Express trains travel only on day trips, ending each day in the same station where they began, enabling travelers to travel to a destination and return in the same day. Shatabdi trains complement Indian Railways' Rajdhani Express trains, which are superfast trains that travel at similar speeds to the Shatabdi trains but go longer distances.
Shatabdi Express trains were designed to connect various major cities in India with express service. Among the many cities served by the Shatabdi trains are New Delhi, Bhopal, Lucknow, Kalka, Mysore, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Agra, Amritsar, Ajmet, Dehradun, Howrah, Ranchi, Bangalore and Kanpur. Rajdhani trains, meanwhile, are designed to connect New Delhi, India's capital, with the capitals of the country's states, according to the Indian Railways Guide.
Shatabdi Express trains are air-conditioned, offering a welcome respite to the Indian heat. The ticket price includes an assortment of meals and snacks to all passengers. Shatabdi trains have a reputation for pleasant traveling. Mark Smith, who writes about train travel for his website, The Man in Seat Sixty-One (seat61.com/India.htm), called the Shatabdi series of trains the best in India.
