A speed sensorless vector control (SLV) for rolling stock is introduced. The proposed SLV system meets the typical performance parameters of rolling stock, including initial speed estimation, stability in one-pulse mode operation, multiple motor drive operations, readhesion control using slip detection by estimated speed, and so on. In particular, we focused on the problem of starting from a backward motion. This is the most severe condition for SLV because they then operate in the zero-speed region. In this paper, a control algorithm for the zero-speed region is proposed and experimental results of a test rim on a main line are presented to verify the validity of the proposed algorithm