India’s first bullet train project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, is progressing well, with the first section expected to open in 2027, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The 508-km-long project will initially operate with an indigenously developed high-speed train. The MEA stated that discussions between India and Japan on the project are ongoing, with Japan set to provide its next-generation E10 series Shinkansen trains in the early 2030s, once the train is fully developed.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the media, stating that both countries have agreed to start operations with an Indian high-speed train due to the E10 series still being under development. He added that the signalling equipment has been ordered in line with international specifications, with the project execution focused on starting the high-speed train project at the earliest. The national transporter has set a target to manufacture the country’s first bullet train, ‘B28’, by March 2027.
The B28 high-speed trainset is being developed by BEML at its Aditya plant in Bengaluru. Once the prototype is completed, it will undergo extensive testing and trials before being cleared for commercial operations on the MAHSR corridor. According to the Railways, the B28 (Bharat-made bullet trainset) has a design speed of 280 kmph, with an operational speed of 250 kmph.
