High-speed rail service launched in India

India debuted its first high-speed train service in mid-February, connecting the capital city of New Delhi to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Indian Railways’ Delhi-Bhopal Express reaches speeds up to 93 mph, cutting travel time between the two cities from two hours and 40 minutes to just under two hours. High-speed train service is planned to other cities from the capital, said Indian Railways Minister Prasad Yadav. The rail network also plans to introduce smart cards for suburban passengers of Mumbai on the Delhi Metro. It is also in the process of making tickets available through ATMs. According to railway officials, concrete walls were built along stretches of the route to keep people and cattle from crossing the tracks. The new service will run daily except on Fridays when the Taj Mahal, which attracts some 2.3 million tourists annually, is closed to visitors. Built between 1631 and 1653, the Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.