According to the reports, Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, awarded a contract for two high-speed eight-coach trains to BEML Ltd late last year.
New Delhi: In a major development, India’s first high-speed train (bullet train) is likely to be rolled out from BEML Ltd’s Bengaluru rail coach complex by mid-2027. It is important to note that the train will run at a speed of 250 km per hour between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. According to the reports, Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, awarded a contract for two high-speed eight-coach trains to BEML Ltd late last year.
“We have appointed a design consultant with whom we hold weekly discussions. Since it is a high-speed train, the technology changes completely, and airtightness is very important. We are also finalising sources and vendors for major sub-assemblies, and we have ordered the propulsion system,” U Subba Rao, General Manager, ICF, told DH.
He further added that BEML will place orders for other systems once the design is finalised. “The design is nearing completion, and we hope to roll out the prototype by mid-2027. Since it is a high-speed train, we will ensure that passengers feel comfortable and enjoy their travel.”
Here are some of the key details:
- The Bullet train will feature modern passenger amenities, including rotatable seats and infotainment systems, suited for day travel.
- The train will be fully air-conditioned train
- Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will have a total length of 508 kms corridor.
- Out of the 508 kms, 348 km is in Gujarat and 156 in Maharashtra.
- A 21-km section of the high-speed rail corridor will be underground
- 7 kms will pass through a sea tunnel and 5 km through a mountain tunnel.
- The top speed on India’s first bullet train corridor will be 320 km per hour.
- The 508-km stretch will pass from 12 stations including Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi in Gujarat and Boisar, Virar, Thane and Mumbai in Maharashtra.
- The estimated time that the bullet train will take to cover the distance between Ahmedabad and Mumbai as per the corridor plan is 2 hours 58 minutes.
- The stations falling on the bullet train project will have facilities like ample seating, clear signage, high quality restrooms, nurseries and baggage lockers.
Amrit Bharat
Rao also said ICF will be prepared to produce more high-speed trains if there is demand. Speaking about the Amrit Bharat Express, which provides a travel experience similar to the Vande Bharat trains but is entirely non-AC, Rao said that the ICF has received an order from the Railway Board to manufacture 50 of these trains.
“While we plan to roll out 25 trains by the end of the 2025–2026 fiscal year and the remaining 25 during 2026–2027, these trains have become popular due to their quality and design,” Rao added.
