An important progress report has come out from the Central Government regarding the country’s most ambitious 508 km long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR). Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced during the ‘NaMo for Developed India’ event organized in Vadodara that the body frame of the first indigenous bullet train being built in India has been completely completed and it has been sent for ‘Squeeze Test’ for structural validation. The Railway Minister clarified that this high-speed train, which is being prepared under the vision of ‘Self-reliant India’, will be put on the tracks for testing by May or June 2027.
In high-speed rail engineering, ‘Squeeze Test’ is considered to be the most important and mandatory safety test for the construction of any train coach.
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Testing the ability to withstand pressure: Under this test, heavy compressive load (hundreds of tons of extreme pressure) is applied on the metallic body frame (shell) of the train by hydraulic jacks from both the ends.
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Crash Safety and Strength: This test ensures that if there is an emergency, strong wind gust or unexpected collision while running at a speed of 250 to 320 kilometers per hour, the train coach can safely withstand the heavy pressure without tipping or tipping.
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Only after passing this structural test, the interior, wiring, traction motor and air-conditioning system are fitted inside the bogies.
The operational speed of this 8-coach train, being prepared by BEML with indigenous technology, has been kept at about 250 to 280 km/hour. Clarifying the deadline, the Railway Minister said:
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Track Trial: The prototype of the entire train will be launched on the track in May or June 2027.
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Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) Trial: Its dynamic and oscillation trials will run for two to four months.
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Inauguration by PM: After successful testing, this train will be formally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the second half of 2027.
While sharing information on the pace of track and civil construction of the project, the Railway Minister said that within Gujarat The section between Surat and Vapi is expected to be completed by December..
The government plans to commission the entire 508 km long track in phases instead of waiting for it all at once.
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First of all Surat-Bilimora (about 50 km) Commercial operations will be started on the trial stretch of Rs.
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Extension of service after this Surat to Vapi (about 100 km)then to Ahmedabad and finally to Mumbai.
Highlighting the social and economic benefits of the project, Ashwini Vaishnav said that after the full implementation of the Bullet Train, the distance from Vadodara to Mumbai can be covered in just 1 hour 30 minutes (one and a half hours), which currently takes 5 to 6 hours by normal trains. The train will have world class amenities, including 360-degree rotating reclining seats, advanced infotainment system, specially adapted coaches for physically challenged persons and automatic climate control. This high-speed network equipped with modern signaling and anti-seismic sensors is going to revolutionize India’s transportation infrastructure.