DHAKA: An Indian passenger train set a new national speed record of 160 kilometres an hour on Thursday during a test between the capital and the Taj Mahal city of Agra.

The introduction of high-speed links and bullet trains were one of the key poll campaign promises of India’s new right-wing prime minister, Narendra Modi, who won elections in May.

Thursday’s test, part of the government’s plans to upgrade the ageing rail network, saw the train complete the 200 kilometres between New Delhi and Agra in around 90 minutes.

The top speed clocked at 10 kilometres more than the previous record.

‘This is now the fastest train in India,’ Delhi divisional railway manager Anurag Sachan told media from inside the train, reports The Straits Times.

‘We are recording all technical parameters during the trial run and hope to introduce it to the public by this November.’

BDST: 2039 HRS, JULY 03, 2014