India is focusing on becoming capable of producing bullet trains capable of reaching 280 km/h and operating at an average speed of 250 km/h.
In a significant step towards self-sufficiency and the Make in India initiative, India will no longer need to import bullet trains from Japan, as preparations are underway for the domestic production of high-speed trains and related signalling systems.
According to a senior Railways official, the new high-speed trains will operate on future standard gauge bullet train corridors. These indigenous trains are expected to be developed based on the current Vande Bharat platform. Additionally, the corridors will feature Kavach 5.0, the most advanced form of automatic train protection system.
Officials also indicated that the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections are expected to boost the bullet train project in the state. It is noteworthy that, the country’s first bullet train project is being developed between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
As per the Railway official, after the recently completed assembly election in Maharashtra, work on the bullet train corridor has accelerated. Land acquisition has been completed, and over 320 kilometers of physical infrastructure has been developed. The official noted that the experience of developing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor will be valuable for future projects. India is now capable of building such corridors independently.
Another official stated that India is focusing on becoming capable of producing bullet trains capable of reaching 280 km/h and operating at an average speed of 250 km/h. Incremental improvements will be made to coaches’ suspension systems, while major advancements will be required in the power train and body. These developments are expected to take in the next three years.
Responding on Japan’s Shinkansen suppliers, the official stated that that would no longer be required, “We do not wish to halt Japanese collaboration. Negotiations are ongoing for the supply of advanced trains for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor,” he stated.
Notably, the BJP’s election manifesto proposed feasibility studies for bullet train corridors in northern, southern, and eastern India. Over 50 percent of the civil work for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor has been completed.
Meanwhile, the Railway Board has assigned Integral Coach Factory (ICF) the major task of manufacturing bullet trains. These trains will be capable of reaching a top speed of 280 km/h.
ICF has joined hands with BEML for the massive project. According to BEML, the cost of these trains will be Rs. 27.86 crore per coach.
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