Indian Railways has unveiled the first official design of the country’s bullet train for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, with operations expected to begin in phases from August 2027.
The Ministry of Railways displayed the image of the sleek, modern train at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi. The design reflects a blend of futuristic styling and Indian elements, based on Japan’s Shinkansen technology.
The 508-km corridor will run between Mumbai in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The train is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 320 km per hour. This will cut travel time between the two cities from around seven to eight hours to nearly two hours.
The project includes India’s first undersea rail tunnel beneath Thane Creek. A phased rollout is planned, with the initial section between Surat and Vapi in Gujarat targeted for launch on August 15, 2027. The full corridor is expected to be completed by December 2029.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has highlighted the progress on civil works, with hundreds of kilometres of viaducts already in place. The first made-in-India bullet train sets, manufactured by BEML, will run on the initial stretch.
A senior Railways official said the unveiling marks an important milestone. The official added that the project will transform high-speed travel in India and set new standards for safety and comfort.
The ₹1.1 lakh crore project is funded partly by a loan from Japan and uses Shinkansen technology. It features elevated tracks for most of the route to minimise land acquisition and ensure smooth operations.
This high-speed rail corridor is India’s first bullet train project. It represents a major step in modernising the country’s railway network and boosting connectivity between major economic centres. Once fully operational, it is expected to improve travel efficiency, create jobs, and support economic growth in the region.
