India, October 2026 — India’s first bullet train project is progressing amid construction delays and evolving procurement arrangements. The 508-kilometre Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor is being developed with Japanese technical and financial support, with its original completion target affected by land acquisition difficulties and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave, Shukuri said that even Japan, with more than six decades of Shinkansen operating experience, would struggle to construct a new 500-kilometre high-speed railway within ten years under current conditions. He argued that the project’s progress should be assessed in the context of its scale and the unforeseen challenges encountered during implementation.
The first operational section, between Surat and Vapi in Gujarat, is targeted to begin commercial services by the end of 2027, while completion of the full corridor is expected by 2029. India is developing its own high-speed trainsets through state-owned BEML, with two trains planned for initial operations. The domestically developed B28 trains are designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h in service, while Japan’s E10 Shinkansen trains are not expected to become available before 2034.
The transition to domestically manufactured trains introduces technical and operational requirements beyond infrastructure construction. Shukuri has emphasised the need for extensive testing, staff training and demonstrated safety and reliability before passenger services begin. Differences between Indian and Japanese train and signalling systems also require careful assessment to ensure compatibility and safe operation.
The corridor remains an important reference point for India’s wider high-speed rail ambitions, which include plans for additional routes spanning nearly 4,000 kilometres. Its delivery will demonstrate how international cooperation, domestic manufacturing and railway system integration can be coordinated on a large-scale project. Establishing reliable operations will be as important as completing the physical infrastructure in determining the long-term success of India’s high-speed rail programme.
Source: Swarajya
India’s Bullet Train Project Highlights High-Speed Rail Delivery Challenges
Journalism & Media
Share this story
Delivering high-speed rail infrastructure requires extensive land acquisition, specialised engineering, system integration and rigorous safety testing, often over long construction periods. Masafumi Shukuri, chairman of the International High-Speed Rail Association, has defended the progress of India’s Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor, arguing that completing a 500-kilometre high-speed railway within a decade would be difficult even for Japan
