DHAKA: An Indian passenger train set a new speed record of 160 kilometres an hour (100 miles an hour) on Thursday during a test between Indian capital city of New Delhi and Agra, reports Times of India.

Thursday's test, part of Indian 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 from inside the train. "We are recording all technical parameters during the trial run and hope to introduce it to the public by this November."

While fast by Indian standards, the train is some way from the Japanese "Shinkansen" admired by Modi which reach speeds of 320 kilometres an hour. The Indian media labelled it a "semi-high-speed train" or "semi-bullet".

BDST: 1406 HRS, JULY 04, 2014