Things have certainly been speeding up in the world today. Just recently, the American President has announced plans to introduce a high speed rail service in Chicago, and several other areas in California and Florida. The speed of these trains would range from 200-250 km/h. It is surprising that USA being though as one of the developed countries is now taking the idea of high speed rail from countries like China, which though quite far behind seems to be speeding ahead in terms of transport.
In China, Shanghai Maglev Train holds the record of the fastest train which has a top operation speed of 431 km/h and top testing speed of 501 km/h. It is only due to the short distance (only 30 km maglev tracks), the average operational speed for the maglev train is 245.5 km/h, else it would have been much higher. Faster still is the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, the high-speed rail service in France with the record speed, from Lorraine-TGV to Champagne-Ardenne-TGV being 279.3 km/h (173.5 mph).
The Delhi metro train capable of a mere 95 km/h currently only runs at a speeds ranging from 60-40KM/h. This is quite fast considering Delhi’s slow, traffic moving standards. Mumbai residents would also be given a speed boost with the government mentioning the start of the monorail in the city on this Republic Day. This would be a relief from the crowded local trains that have been ferrying mumbaikars for ages. Only the mono-rail is much smaller in size as compared to the Delhi Metro and it may just be another crowded form of transport.
I wonder why India cannot introduce high speed trains. It would certainly be a way to speed up Indians economic development process.
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