Whalesbook
India Aims for Faster Domestic Bullet Trains
India is setting its sights higher for its domestically developed high-speed trains. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced plans for the nation's next-generation bullet train to reach speeds of 350 kilometers per hour. Design work for this advanced train is expected to begin within the next six months.
Progress on Current Rail Projects
This new target comes as the 508-kilometer Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, which began construction in 2016, is nearing its first operational phase. This corridor is built for trains running up to 320 kmph, with the first section planned to open in August 2027. Separately, BEML and Integral Coach Factory (ICF) are working together on the B28 bullet train, aiming for speeds up to 280 kmph. A prototype is expected early next year, and part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is set to see operations by August 2027.
Technology and Safety Considerations
Minister Vaishnaw stated that the upcoming high-speed trains will incorporate special systems designed for India's varied climate. Safety will be a key focus for the Railway Board, with new technologies being integrated this fiscal year. In the past decade, India has laid nearly 70,000 kilometers of tracks, and over 80% of its rail network now supports speeds up to 110 kmph. Earlier images of a potential indigenous bullet train design were clarified as conceptual and not the final model.