Bullet Trains in India

The first-ever bullet train in India is all set to open to the public by 2026. The route of this train will cover a total of 50 kilometers, from Surat to Bilmora. The high-speed rail project in India was supposed to start in 2020 but got delayed because of Covid. Now, the first bullet train in India is expected to begin its maiden journey in 2026.

Bullet trains are high-speed trains that were first developed in Japan. Based on Shinkansen technology, these trains can move incredibly fast and cover great distances in mere seconds. In this article, we have share details about the plan to introduce bullet trains in India.

What are Bullet Trains?

Bullet trains are passenger trains that are extremely fast. They operate on a special high-speed rail network. After decades of waiting, the first bullet train in India will be introduced by the government in 2026. Bullet trains operate on dedicated tracks, using rolling stock technology.

• The first ever bullet train was run in Japan in 1964 and it was called the Tokaido Shinkansen.
• By the mid-1980s, Madhavrao Scindia, India’s former railway minister proposed the idea of the bullet train in India for the first time.
• Bullet trains typically run at a minimum speed of 200-250 kilometers per hour.

Fastest Train in India

The Delhi-Bhopal Vande Bharat Express is India’s fastest train in 2023. This train can reach a speed of 180 km/h and operates at a top speed of 160 km/h. This train runs along 14 lines and first started operations in 2019. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project will surpass Vande Bharat as the fastest train in India.

Bullet Train in India: History

The idea of introducing bullet trains in India was first conceived by Former Railway Minister Madhavrao Scindia in the mid-1980s. The idea was dropped then due to high construction costs and the inability of the customers to pay a high fare.

• In 2014, the incumbent ruling party of BJP revived this proposal in its election manifesto.
• The party proposed the development of the Diamond Quadrilateral, which would connect the four major cities of India: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai, through the high-speed rail network or the bullet train network.
• When the party won the election, the Diamond Quadrilateral project was approved as a priority. The first high-speed rail route proposed under this project was between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, and this project is currently under construction.
• The first bullet train in India is ready to be unveiled by 2026.
• Japan is the biggest technological and financial contributor to this project.
• Several other high-speed rail routes are proposed to connect the entire of India by bullet trains, which are discussed further in this article.

Bullet Train in India: Vision 2020

• The Ministry of Railways submitted “Vision 2020”, a white paper to the Parliament of India on December 18, 2009.
• This white paper envisaged the project of bullet trains in India.
• The service of this train will be available at 250–350 km/h across many regions of the country.

Bullet Train in India Route

A total of eight routes of high-speed trains in India are being developed by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Below listed are the proposed high-speed rail corridors to facilitate bullet trains in India:

Proposed Rail Routes of Bullet Trains in India

The dream project of bullet trains in India has already been initiated in parts and is expected to come true by 2028. Currently, the partial opening of the Surat to Bilmora corridor is expected in 2026. The development of many more high-speed rail routes is anticipated to reduce travel time and increase ease of traveling.

Besides, the project of high-speed trains in India will generate several employment opportunities, contributing to the country’s overall economic growth. Moreover, this project will serve as a definite catalyst for the future technological progress of India.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Corridor

• It is the only high-speed rail corridor that is currently under construction.
• It stretches over 508 kilometers. A 50-kilometre stretch between Surat and Bilimora is expected to become partially operational by 2026.

Delhi-Noida-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi Corridor

• It is an 865-kilometer stretch of high-speed rail corridor for which the land acquisition is currently under process.
• This route will cover the states of UP, Delhi, and Haryana.

Delhi-Jaipur-Udaipur-Ahmedabad Corridor

• This is 886 kilometers long high-speed train project and will connect the two major cities of Delhi and Ahmedabad through a bullet train.
• The train will pass through Udaipur and Jaipur.

Varanasi-Howrah Corridor

• It is a 760-kilometer high-speed rail corridor, with Patna being a major station.
• As per the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), land acquisition for this rail route will begin soon.

Mumbai-Nashik-Nagpur Corridor

• It is the second bullet train in India project in Maharashtra after the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor.
• It is proposed to be a 741-kilometer stretch and is currently in the planning phase.

Mumbai-Pune-Hyderabad Corridor

• It is a 767-kilometre-long high-speed corridor connecting Mumbai and Hyderabad.
• This bullet train in India will run through 11 stations in Maharashtra and Telangana.

Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru Corridor

• This is a 435-kilometre-long corridor that is currently in the first phase of development.
• NHSRCL is working in collaboration with NHAI to develop this rail route.

Delhi-Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Amritsar Corridor

• This route of the fastest train in India will stretch over 465 kilometers.
• It will connect Delhi and Amritsar through Jalandhar and Chandigarh.
• The project has been fast-tracked by the government.

FAQs on Bullet Trains in India

Q1. Are there any bullet trains in India?

Currently, the project bullet train in India for the Mumbai-Gujarat stretch is under construction. In 2026, the 50-km Surat-Bilimora stretch of the route will be open. The entire project of the fastest train in India is likely to be completed entirely by 2028.

Q2. What is the completion date of bullet trains in India?

The completion date of bullet trains in India is set to be completed partially in 2026. Many other routes are also proposed by the government of India and are expected to be completed by 2028. The onset of Covid-19 delayed the project of bullet train in India by a few years.

Q3. Which bullet train project is under construction in India?

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is the only route under the project Bullet Trains in India which is currently under construction. The under-construction stretch of Surat-Bilimora will run a total of 51 kilometers and is expected to open by 2026.

Q4. What will be the maximum speed of Bullet Trains in India?

The maximum speed of Bullet Trains in India will be 250 km/h. All bullet trains operate at around 200 km/h or 250 km/h. Currently in India, the Delhi-Bhopal Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train that runs at a speed of 180 km/h.