India’s much-awaited bullet train project is moving closer to its first passenger service, with trial runs on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor expected to begin in May or June 2027. As per reports, the country’s first indigenous high-speed train will enter testing next year, with passenger operations expected to follow within two to four months of the trials.
First Trials to begin in 2027
The first body frame of the high-speed train has been completed and sent for squeeze testing. The test is designed to assess the structural strength of the train coaches before they enter service. The trials will be conducted on a section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, where construction is nearing completion.
Vadodara to Mumbai in 90 minutes
The high-speed service is expected to transform travel between Gujarat and Mumbai. Passengers travelling from Vadodara to Mumbai would be able to make the journey in around one and a half hours. The corridor is being developed in phases, with the Surat-Vapi section expected to be completed by December this year.
Bullet Train to open in stages
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad service is expected to be introduced gradually rather than across the entire corridor at once.
- Surat-Bilimora: First section scheduled to open
- Vapi-Surat: Second phase
- Vapi-Ahmedabad: Third phase
- Ahmedabad-Thane: Fourth phase
- Ahmedabad-Mumbai: Final extension, completing the full route once the Thane section is ready
This phased approach means passengers could begin using parts of the high-speed network before the entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is operational.
Part of a wider railway overhaul
Indian Railways is undergoing wider changes, including upgrades to operating systems, ticket reservation systems and construction standards. Major infrastructure projects such as the Chenab Bridge and the railway connection to Mizoram have also been completed in recent years. Across the country, 280 railway stations have been redeveloped and 36,000 kilometres of new track laid. Railway infrastructure development has also picked up pace after delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Seven more High-Speed Corridors planned
Mumbai-Ahmedabad route is only the beginning of the government’s high-speed rail plans. Seven more corridors have been proposed:
- Delhi-Varanasi
- Varanasi-Patna-Siliguri
- Mumbai-Pune
- Pune-Hyderabad
- Bengaluru-Chennai
- Bengaluru-Hyderabad
- Chennai-Hyderabad
If delivered, the proposed network would extend high-speed rail well beyond the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, connecting several of India’s major cities. For now, the immediate milestone is May-June 2027, when India’s first home-grown bullet train is expected to begin its trial runs.
