By current IR terminology- 160-200kmph is SHS. Proposed SHS trains are likely to be 160kmph (avg speed about 110kmph) like Gatimaan. This terminology is probably based on the assumption that increasing the speed of trains on the conventional tracks to maximum i.e. 160-200kmph band is Semi High Speed.
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By International norms,
* In Eighties when TGVs made a record of 270kmph and...
more... trains in other European countries were touching 240-250kmph, 220/240/250/270 kmph was considered as HS. All these trains operated on dedicated high speed track(by 1980 standards), Conventional trains run upto about 160/180 kmph
* With the advancements in railway technology, today typically HSTs are operating at 300/320/330/350 kmph max speed on dedicated HS tracks. No country goes for a construction of new dedicated tracks for just 220-250 kmph speed band which can be classifed as SHS. Early HS routes with 220/270km potential were upgraded to 300/330kmph to maintain HS status by today's standards.
* In my view approximate speed classification should be:
HS-270/300-350 kmph & above
SHS-180/200-250/260 kmph
Conventional Fast Express trains- 120-160/170 kmph
Conventional Express trains- upto 110 kmph
SHS train is generally 200-250kmphSHS Conventional trains (on conventional tracks) run upto about 200kmph,