India-Made B28 Bullet Train Set for Debut on MAHSR Line

• India’s B28 bullet train to debut on Surat - Vapi route.
• First service planned for Aug 2027 on HSR corridor.
• Indigenous train built by BEML under Make in India.

India is on the verge of unveiling its first domestically manufactured bullet train, the B28 trainset, on the Mumbai, Ahmedabad High, Speed Rail Corridor. The train is anticipated to start running in August 2027 on the Surat, Vapi stretch in Gujarat, which is a significant step forward in the country's high, speed rail plan.

BTL is producing the B28 train domestically as part of the government's effort to promote the development of local industry through the "Make in India" campaign. India has embarked on a course leading to a high, speed rail system with indigenous technology, and this train could be a very effective symbol of the country's progress.

Given this, the government has decided that using the first indigenous train for the corridor will be a powerful demonstration of India's capabilities in high, speed rail. The first operational rail line will span roughly 97 kilometers from Surat to Vapi. This is the portion of the 508, km Mumbai, Ahmedabad high, speed rail project which is expected to drastically cut the travel time between the two cities when the entire corridor becomes fully operational.

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The B28 train is capable of reaching speeds of 280 km per hour, thus enabling much quicker travel than the usual trains. The officials also mentioned that the schedule for the start of operation will be determined by the completion of the major infrastructure components like civil structures, track laying, signaling systems, telecom networks, and the delivery of trainsets.

The MumbaiAhmedabad high, speed rail project implemented by the National High, Speed Rail Corporation is India's first bullet train corridor. Japan is providing the Shinkansen technology and funding for the development of the project.

After the complete corridor is finished, the bullet train will largely reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to less than two hours, enhancing connectivity and facilitating economic integration of western India. The whole project is currently set to be completed by 2029, while the Surat - Vapi stretch is expected to be the first operational section.