India’s Bullet Train: Amidst questions surrounding the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, the government has clarified that a high-speed train will indeed run on the tracks starting next year. Due to delays in receiving the E10 series Shinkansen trains from Japan, India will initially operate its indigenous B-28 high-speed train on the track starting in 2027. According to sources, discussions between India and Japan regarding the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project are progressing well. Japan has agreed to supply the new-generation E10 series high-speed train for the project; however, the E10 series train is currently in the development stage. These trains are expected to be delivered to India in the early 2030s.
BEML is manufacturing the B-28 in Bengaluru.
This 8-coach train has a seating capacity of 560 passengers.
The bullet train will have a speed of 250 to 280 km/h.
When will the bullet train run in India?
Construction of the bullet train corridor is proceeding rapidly, and the government plans to launch the first section—from Surat to Bilimora—on August 15, 2027. Since the E10 series train will only be available after 2030, India and Japan have agreed to commence initial operations using an Indian-made high-speed train. The objective is to launch the project for passengers as soon as possible without delay. Both nations are preparing to start operations on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project quickly so that passengers can reap the benefits.
What is the ‘Made in India’ bullet train?
According to reports, India will utilize a ‘Made in India’ bullet train of its own design. This decision was taken because Japan cannot supply the E10 Shinkansen trains to India before 2030. Japan has not yet been able to provide a final offer for the E10 trains, signaling systems, and the Operation Control Center (OCC) system, as the train is still in the design phase in Japan. Speed of Japan’s Bullet Trains
Older E5 series trains are gradually being phased out in Japan. Based on feasibility reports and experiences from Taiwan and South Korea, India has announced plans to launch the first section of its bullet train project by August 15, 2027. Waiting for Japan’s E10 trains could delay the project until 2034; therefore, both nations have decided to proceed with the high-speed rail project on schedule using trains that are already available. Japanese bullet trains operate at speeds of 320 km/h.
‘Make in India’ B-28 Coaches
Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Railways is manufacturing B-28 high-speed train coaches domestically. Indigenous high-speed train sets capable of speeds up to 280 km/h are being designed and manufactured through a collaboration between the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). This will pave the way for the necessary tooling, testing, and production capabilities required for future high-speed rail projects in the country. Indian companies are also manufacturing essential components, construction equipment, and slab track systems for high-speed rail. The B-28 coaches are being manufactured at a specialized complex named ‘Aditya’ in Bengaluru. India’s high-speed rail sector is achieving self-reliance through research and training at IITs combined with Japanese engineering expertise.
Changes to the Signaling System
India’s bullet train will operate using the European Train Control System (ETCS), an international signaling standard. This system is also utilized in South Korea, various European nations, Taiwan, and China. The ‘Rapid Rail’—or ‘Namo Bharat’ train—also operates on this same system.
Questions Regarding India’s Shinkansen Project
A leader from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a former Justice Minister raised questions on social media, claiming that the project had been delayed due to India. It was claimed that excluding Japan from the signaling system signaled the failure of the ‘India Shinkansen’ project. However, the reality is that India was already executing the civil construction work for this 508-kilometer-long project on its own. Now, instead of sourcing trains and signaling systems from Japan, India is preparing to launch the project by 2027 using indigenous bullet train technology.
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