NEW DELHI • India has flagged off its fastest-ever train as part of a major modernisation of the crumbling railway system - but its top speed is only half of those in China and other countries.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu yesterday hailed the Gatimaan Express, running from New Delhi to the Taj Mahal and boasting hostesses and bone China crockery, as "a new era of high-speed rail travel".

But the express has a top speed of 160kmh, compared with trains in China, Japan, France and other countries which can reach 320kmh or more. Described by the government as India's first "semi high-speed train", it is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US$135 billion (S$183.3 billion) plan to overhaul Asia's oldest rail network over five years.

Railways are a lifeline for India's 1.25 billion people. About 23 million people, equivalent to the population of Australia, travel by train every day.

But the railways are creaking from decades of neglect and chronic under-investment. The government is seeking foreign assistance and has signed a deal with Japan to build India's first bullet train.

The 100-minute journey from the capital to Agra will cost between 750 rupees (S$15.30) and 1,500 rupees, depending on the seat class.

"Its speed is an improvement over other trains running on the same route at 150km an hour," Indian Railways spokesman Neeraj Sharma said.

Most trains in India, however, average speeds of around 110kmh.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE