Gatimaan Express is ranked as one of the fastest-moving trains in India. Gatimaan Express connects Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station and Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Junction. There are four stoppage stations between these two stations and the total time the train takes is around 4 hours and 25 minutes.
The maximum operational speed of Gatimaan Express at 160 kilometres/hour (99 mph) is in the Tughlakabad-Agra section. This train equals the Vande Bharat Express trains in terms of speed (160 km per hour). However, the Vande Bharat Express trains can also operate at a maximum speed of 180 kilometres/hour. The speed of Gatimaan Express and Vande Bharat Express remains 160 km per hour on certain segments of tracks between Delhi and Agra which were developed in 2016.
There are two major reasons for this with the first being the WAP-5 engine used to haul the Gatimaan Express. Besides the Gatimaan Express, this engine is used to haul the Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express. State-owned locomotive manufacturer Chittaranjan Locomotive Works makes this engine with an aerodynamic and ergonomic design.
As per the Railway Ministry, the first aerodynamically designed three-phase WAP-5 passenger electric locomotive will help reduce air drag. It will help reduce the air drag at a higher speed for more energy efficiency and dynamic stability during high-speed operation.
WAP-5 engines are also equipped with a Train Protection Warning System, a security system based on European technologies. The train protection warning system applies automatic brakes if a train jumps the red signal or is approaching the signal at a high speed. According to the reports, the two segments that support the TPWS are the Delhi-Agra segment and the South India segment.
The engines are also equipped with the latest IGBT-based propulsion system. IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) combines the high-speed switching capability of a MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor). IGBT combines it with the high-voltage and high-current handling capability of a bipolar transistor.
The second reason is the 187.74-kilometer segment from the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station to the Agra Cantt Railway Station. There are some sections where the Gatimaan Express is required to slow down leaving it with only 140 kilometres to attain high speed.
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